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NAPOLEON IN EXILE;
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OPINIONS AND REFLECTIONS OF NAPOLEON
<nff THX
M06T DiFOBTAirr ETENTS OF HIS JJFE AND OOTEBNKENT,
IN HIS OWN WORDa
Br BARRY K O'MEARA, Esij^
liAXB wumawon.
"Th* aateBtahiaf mU of W.OOO tofim of thk wcrk. wHhia fho poriod of • fcw Bootha, Boat, of
iimlt, aSard • telonblo prMamp<iT« proof of ito t»1m and importaBe*, aad —to Wioli m aa iaamUvmt-
ible fiwi, lb*t it hM beoo Um ■eareo whonco all otim Worlu hoTUif any proteneo to g«iuiin*iiMt aad
anthontieity aro derirad ; arofy bnooh of tk« pariodical praaa at hooM, wbathor Roriawa,
or Daily aad Waokly Joomala, Mttropolhaa aad Proriadal, hava baalowad apoa it tka BMal w^oaliflad
raeooiflMsdatioa, aa prcaaotiBg a battaf Memorial of A MAN who mb aoTor eaaao to aseila a dograo
of liitaraat panoMant to ovary othor iadiTidaalov drcaaalaaea of Modtm '
IN TWO VOLUMES FOX. //.
NEW YORK:
WILLIAM GOWANS.
1853.
"k^**?^^ \\\'^ ^
A VOICE
FBOM
ST. HELENA.
2lst. Aprily 1817. — N apoleon has been for some
days in very good spirits. On Saturday, the 19th,
several captains of East Indiamen came to see
Count and Countess Bertrand. Captains Innes,
Campbell, and Ripsley, with Mr. Webb, stationed
themselves at the back of the house in such a situ-
ation as to be likely to see Napoleon on his return
from Bertrand's, where he had gone about four
o'clock. Napoleon beckoned to, and conversed
with them for nearly an hour, during which time
he asked many questions respecting India, the
East India Company, Lord Moira, their own pro-
fits, &c. ; and to the commodore, who had a very
youthful appearance, in a laughing manner he
observed, that he was a child, and ought to be
ashamed of commanding captains so much older
than himself.
VOL. II. B
1 tl«3
2 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
Asked the emperor whether it was at Lodi or
Areola that he had seized the standard^ and pre-
cipitated himself among the enemy's troops. He
replied, " At Areola, not Lodi. At Areola, I was
slightly wounded ; but at Lodi no such circum-
stance occurred. Why do you ask ? Do you
think me Idche f^ said he, laughing. I begged to
assure him of my thorough conviction of the con-
trary, which was too well known to be doubted ;
and that it was merely to solve a difference of
opinion that had arisen between some of us Eng-
lish who had not the means of procuring at St.
Helena any books to satisfy us at which of the
two it happened, that I had taken the liberty to
ask him. " Those things," said he, with a smile,
^* are not worth mentioning.**
Had a long conversation with him on medical
subjects. He appeared to entertain an idea that
in cases purely the province of the physician, the
patient has an equal chance of being despatched
to the other world, either by the doctor mistaking
the complaint, or by the remedies administered
operating in a different manner from what was in
tended and expected, and was for trusting entirely
to nature. With respect to surgery, he professed a
far different opinion, and acknowledged the great
utility of that science. I endeavoured to convince
him, that in some complaints, nature was a bad
physician, and mentioned in proof of my argument
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. S
the examples that had taken place under his own
eyes of the cases of Countess Montholon, General
Gourgaud, Tristan, and others; who if they had
been left to nature, would have gone to the other
world. I observed that in practice we always had
a certain object in view, and never prescribed re-
medies without first having considered well what
we had to expect from their operation. Napo-
leon, however, was sceptical ; and inclined to think
that if they had taken no medicine, maintained
strict abstinence from every thing except plenty
of diluents, they would have done equally well.
However, after having heard all my arguments,
he said, " well, perhaps if ever I have a serious
malady, I may change my opinion, take all your
medicines, and do what you please. I should
like to know what sort of a patient I should make,
and whether I should be tractable, or otherwise,
I am inclined to think the former." I reasoned
with him afterwards about inflammation of the
lungs, and asked him if he thought that nature, if
left to herself, would effect a cure in that com-
plaint. He appeared a little staggered at this at
first ; but after asking me what were the remedies,
to which I replied that venesection was the sheet-
anchor, he said, '^ that complaint belongs to the
surgeon, because he cures it with his lancet, and
not to the physician." I then mentioned dysen-
tery and intermittent fevers. "The remedies given
4 A VOICE rnoM st. Helena.
in intermittent fevers,** said he, "frequently pro-
duce worse complaints than the disease that they
remove. Suppose now that the best informed
physician visits forty patients a day; amongst
them he will kill one or two a month by mistaking
the disease, and in the country towns the charhi-
tans will kill about half of those who die under
their hands."
" The country towns in England, as well as in
France,** said be, "abound with Molidres doc-
tors. Are you a fatalist ?** I replied, " in action I
am.** ** Why not every where else ?** said the em-
peror ; I said, that I believed a man*s dissolu-
tion, in certain cases, to be inevitable if he did not
endeavour by the means placed in his power,
to prevent his fate. For example, I said, that
if a man in battle saw a cannon shot coming
towards him, as sometimes happened, he would
naturally step to one side, and thereby avoid an
otherwise inevitable death ; which comparison I
thought would hold good with certain complaints,
by considering the ball to be the disease, and
stepping aside, the remedy. Napoleon replied,
" perhaps by stepping to one side, you may throw
yourself in the way of another ball, -vhich other-
wise would have missed you. I remember,'*
added be, " an example of what I tell you having
occurred at Toulon, when I commanded the artil-
lery. There were some Marseillois artillerymen
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 5
Siuit to the siege. Now of all the people ia
France, the Marseillois are the least brave,
and indeed, generally speaking, have but little
energy. I observed an oflScer, like the rest, to
be very careful of himself, instead of shewing aa
example. I therefore called out and said, ^ Mon-
sieur officer, come out and observe the eflFect of
your shot. You do not know whether your gunn
are well pointed or not.' At this time we were
firing upon the English ships. I desired him to
see if our shot struck them in the hull. He wai
very unwilling to quit his station ; but at last he
came over to where I was, a little outside of the
parapet, where he began to look ouL Wishing,
however, to make himself small, and to secure as
much of his body as possible, he stooped down
and sheltered one side of his body behind the
parapet, while he looked under my arm. He had
not been long in that position before a shot came
close to me, and low down, which knocked him
to pieces. Now, if this man had stood upright,
and more exposed to danger, he would liave been
safe, as the ball would have passed between us,
without hurting either."
I recounted to the emperor, after this, a circum-
stance which had happened in the Victorious,
seventy-four. Captain Talbot, when I was on board
of her, which I explained minutely to him. Dur-
ing the action with bis ship the Rivoli, a man wJ1m>
6 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
had been slightly wounded, had crept into the
heart of the cable tier in the orlop deck, and
placed himself among the cables in such a man-
ner, that it appeared to be a matter of impossibi-
Kty that a shot could reach him. Notwithstand-
ing the apparent security of the place, towards the
end of the action a shot struck the ship veiy low
down, penetrated the wings, went through two
or three coils of the cable, then rose upwards,
struck one of the beams which supported the
lower deck, and being spent, rebounded back,
fell upon this man's breast who was Ipng on his
back, and killed him. He was found afterwards
with the shot, (a thirty-six pounder,) lying upon
his breast.
" This,* said he, " confirms what I say to you,
that a man cannot avoid his destiny." Napoleon
appeared entertained with this anecdote, and asked,
whether the man was a sailor or a soldier ? I re-
plied, a sailor.
The emperor during the course of conversation,
spoke about eunuchs ; the making of whom ht
observed was a most disgraceful and horrid prac-
tice. " I suppressed it,** said he, " in all the coun-
tries under my dominion ; even in Rome itself
I prohibited it under pain of death. It was en-
tirely put a stop to, and I believe that although
the pope and the cardinals are now in power, it
will not be again revived. I recoUect^ added
A VOICB FROM 8T. HBLENA. 7
he, **an incident with respect to one of those
gentry, which made me laugh. There was one
Crescentini, an excellent singer, who often sang
before me and delighted me much. As I wished
to ^iconrage merit in every science, and as it was
his misfortune, and not his fault to have been mu-
tilated, having been probably only two or three
years old when it was performed, I conferred upon
him the knighthood of the iron crown. This, how-
ever, displeased a great many, who said that a
thing that was not a man ought not to have an
order for manhood conferred upon him. There
were great discussions abc.ut it, in which Madame
Grassini, whom I suppose you know, took a part.
Whilst others were blaming me, Grassini said, ^ I
really think the emperor has done right in giving
it to him ; I think that he deserves it.* Being
asked why, she replied, ^ I think he merits it, if it
were only on account of his wounds^ This sally
produced the greatest laughter, and turned the
business completely. I believe that no person
laughed more at it than myself.'*
23rrf. — Yesterday Napoleon was indisposed,
and had recourse to his customary remedies, diet
and diluents. He remained all day in his bed-
room, and eat nothing. Told me that he had risen
at three in the morning, and wrote or dictated all
day.
Gave him two or three newspapers. He re-
8 A VOICB FROM 8T. HELENA.
peated his disbelief of the rumour of war being
likely to take place between Russia and America,
as it was contrary to the interests of both.
General Gourgaud the day before yesterday
rode out towards the alarm-house, and on his way
met the Russian commissioner and Captain Gor,
with whom he conversed for a considerable time.
They were seen by Captain Poppleton, who was
on his way to dine at Plantation House. When
his excellency was informed of this, he said at first
that Captain P. ought to have remained with them
to listen ; but when it was explained to him that
he could not have done so without affronting them,
as General Gourgaud knew that he was to dine
at Plantation House, he acknowledged that it
could not have been done.
This day, however, a note came from Major
Gorrequer, stating that the governor wanted to see
Captain Poppleton directly, and that he was re-
quired to write an official statement of what he
had witnessed yesterday between the commissioner
and Gourgaud. That the governor regretted he
had not followed and kept company with them, in
pursuance of the conversation he had had with
him (Captain P.) in town on a certain day. In
this conversation the governor said he expected
that he would, whenever he saw them speaking
together, drop in as it were by accident, and make
one of their party.
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 9
These precautions appeared curious, as the
parties had a long interview together at the last
races before the governor himself and his staff
without molestation.
Saw Napoleon in the evening again, who de-
clared himself to be quite well. He spoke of the
time he was in the habit of devoting to business
when in Paris. That occasionally he used to dic-
tate to four diflFerent secretaries at a time, all upon
diflFerent subjects, and sometimes even to five, each
writing as fast as he could. Made some observa-
tions upon the Emperor of Austria. Observed
that if he were in his power, no treatment could
be too good or limits too extensive. The emperor
he pronounced to be a good and religious man,
but a ganache. A man, who though he did not
want common sense, never did any thing of him-
self, but was always led by the nose by Metter-
nich or some one else.. As long as he had a bad
minister, his government would be bad, as he en
tirely trusted to him, and only paid attention to
botany and gardening.
24th. — Napoleon in veiy good spirits. Very
curious in his enquiries about Mu rat's expedition
against Sicily. Asked me to describe minutely the
strength of the English force which had then occu-
pied Sicily, and appeared surprised when I said that
it had amounted to about twenty thousand Eng-
lish, Hanoverians, &c. He asked if I thought
VOL. II. G
10 A VOICB FBOM ST. HELENA.
that Murat would have succeeded in taking the
island, if he had landed ?* I replied that I be-
lieved not, as independent of the formidable Eng-
lish force against him, in general the Sicilians
themselves hated the French, and declared that
they would have caused another " Sicilian Vespers'*
if they came. He asked " how many troops Fer-
dinand had r I replied, perhaps fifteen thousand
men, of whom, however, we were very doubtful,
and consequently kept near Palermo, with the ex-
ception of a regiment of cavalry. He wished to
know " if our ships could have kept the channel on
the night that Murat had caused a landing to be
made by a small body, and whether they could have
remained at anchor along the Sicilian side of
the FaroT I replied, that I had no doubt the ships
might have kept the channel on that night ; that
they might also have remained at anchor along the
Faro, but at a risk during the Scirocco winds, as
the bottom was a bad holding ground, and if the
anchors went, the ships must go on shore. He
asked the name of the English Admiral. " That
imbecile Murat," added he, "lost me about twelve
or thirteen hundred men by the foolish disem-
barkation he made in Sicily. I know not what
* It may be necessary to explain to the reader^ that I was at-
tached to the flotilla against Murat in a mortar-boat^ under the
eommand of Captain Coffin^ R. N. during the whole of the period
alluded to.
A^t<WeK' PHOM ST. HELSNA. 11'
object he could have had in view by thus land-
ing a few men." I replied that Murat had said
he intended to have landed with his whole army
near the Faro, while this small body was in-
tended to act as a diversion. ^*Do you think
that he could have landed on that night?" said
Napoleon. I replied, I thought he could, as all
our ships were withdrawn from their stations
and locked up in the harbour of Messina. Na-
poleon said, " If I had really intended Murat
to have taken Sicily, I would have pushed out
the Toulon fleet with thirty thousand men to
effect a landing near Palermo, from whence the
fleet should have proceeded directly to the Faro,
to cover Murat's landing. But it was only in-
tended to keep your English army doing nothing
in Sicily by means of the canaglie under Murat,*
and not to take Sicily, as there were few French
troops with him, and I was apprehensive that your
army might have been employed elsewhere against
me." I asked if there had been any secret treaty
between Murat and the English admiral and gene-
^ Murat was not aware of this. He was sincere in his in ten*
iions of landing in Sicily ; but on the night in which he wanted to
embark all his army for that purpose^ General Grenier, who com*
manded the French troops with him^ shewed him an order prohibit-
ing them to make the attempt. Of this I have been since informed
by a person who was minister to the unfortunate King Joachim at
the time.
12 A VOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA.
ral to allow Murat to withdraw with his boats and
troops without molestation. " No," said the em-
peror, " none that I know of. Why do you ask
such a question ?'* I replied, " because so little had
been done to annoy them in their retreat, that I
often thought some agreement must have been
made to let Murat withdraw quietly with his
troops, provided he abandoned his enterprize.**
He laughed, and said, '* there was none, at least
to my knowledge."
I then mentioned to him the plot to massacre
the English officers, and drive the English out of
Sicily, said to have been discovered in 1810, (I
think) by * * *. *^ Caroline," said he, " was very
capable of forming such a plot. I believe, how-
ever, that * * invented a great part of it, and also
betrayed you at the time that he pretended to
make such important discoveries. Murat got in-
formation from some officer in the English ser-
vice." I said that * * * had frequently gone over
to Calabria disguised as a peasant. " Very pro-
bably he betrayed you every time he went," re-
plied Napoleon.
He spoke about the Corsicans: observed that
they were brave and revengeful by nature, the
best friends and the most inexorable enemies in
the world. "Their prominent national character,"
added he, ** is never to forget a benefit or an in
jury. For the slightest insult in Corsica, una ar^
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 13
chihugiata. Murdei'S f.re consequently very com-
mon. At the same time no people are more grate-
ful for benefits conferred, and they will not scruple
to sacrifice their lives for the person who bestowed
them.**
25th. — Had some conversation with Napoleon
relative to Count Bertrand having been stopped
by the sentinel a few days back, when going down
towards Mr. Wilton's cottage. Napoleon said,
that he supposed the sentinel had orders to stop
all suspicious persons, similar to those given to
the one at Hut's Gate, and observed in a laughing
manner, that the French were the only suspicious
people in the island. Told him that a report had
arrived in the island of war having been declared
between Spain and America, and Russia and
America. *^ Russia and America ?" said he, " Im-
possible. If it takes place I shall never be asto-
nished again at any circumstance that happens.
The Spanicards will be well drubbed." I said,
that one of the American large frigates could take
a Spanish seventy-four. This he would not be-
lieve. I then said, that during the war with Spain,
one of our frigates, which were smaller than the
Americans, would not have been afraid to attack
a Spanish seventy-four. Napoleon looked at me
in rather an incredulous manner, shook liis head,
laughed, and said, " Seinpre per la marmay Dot-
14 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
t(yre* — she certainly would have been taken*
I replied, that if the weather was bad, I did not
think so. He said, that there never had been an
instance on record of a frigate's having taken a
seventy-four.
29M. — ^Dined with Sir Pulteney Malcolm in
town. Count Balmaine came to pass the even-
ing, during the course of which he had a long con-
versation with me. He said that he had that day
met General Gourgaud near the alarm-house,
and that finding himself in a very delicate situa-
tion, he told the general that his position was very
embarrassing, as it appeared that he (Balmaine)
was an object of suspicion to the governor ; that
he must consequently beg to decline any further
communication with him beyond the customary
salutations of politeness, however unpleasant it
was to do so in a place where there was so little
French society, until after the arrival of the Con-
queror, by which vessel he expected instructions
of importance, and such as would clearly point
out to him the line of conduct which he was in
future to pursue. That in doing this, he had ra-
ther gone beyond his present instructions, which
were not to Suiter ces messieurs la, but to treat
them precisely as he did the inhabitants and other
residents on the island ; that he could not account
* Always for the nary. Doctor.
A TOICS FROM ST. HELENA. 15
for the suspicion manifested by the governor^ as
it could not be supposed that he was sent out to
betray.
Cipriani in town. On his return he related the
obligations he was under to Sir Thomas Reade,
who was busily employed in assisting him to pro-
cure some hams and other articles of provisions
out of the company*s stores.
30^A. — ^Napoleon has been occupied for some
days in dictating and writing observations upon
the works of the Great Frederick. Told me that
when finished they might probably comprise five
or six octavo volumes^ and would consist of
military observations and reflections only^ with
as much detail as would be necessary for the ex-
planation of the operations commented upon. For
several mornings he has been up at three^ a. m.
writing. Saw several pages of his hand-writing,
which was much more legible than any I had be-
fore seen. He observed, that formerly he had
sometimes been in the habit of writing only half
or three-quarters of each word, and running them
into each other, which was not attended with
much inconvenience, as the secretaries had become
so well accustomed to it, that they could read it
with nearly as much facility as if it were written
plainly ; that, however, no person, except one >vell
acquainted with his manner of writing, could read
it. Latterly, he said, he had begun to write a little
16 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
more legibly^ in consequence of not being so much
hurried as on former occasions.
Napoleon then observed, that I had made a con-
siderable progress in French since he had first seen
me, ** though you have," said he, " a very bad ac-
cent. It has been said by some of the English,
that I understand Italian better than French,
which is not true. Although I speak the Italian
very fluently, it is not pure. Non parlo Toscano,*
nor am I capable of writing a book in Italian, nor
do I ever speak it in preference to the French."
Speaking about Chateaubriand's attacks upon
him, he observed, '* Cest un de ces laches qui cror-
chent sur un cadavre. (He is one of those poltroons
who spit upon a dead body.) Like Pichon and
others, he is one of those insects that feed upon a
corpse, which, while living, they dared not ap-
proach." After some other conversation I asked
him if there had been a sufficiency of provisions
for his army on the retreat from Moscow, whe-
ther it might not have been accomplished with a
loss much smaller than that which they had sus-
tained ? Napoleon answered, *' No ; the cold
would have destroyed them, even if they had had
a sufficiency of provisions. Those who had food,
died by hundreds. Even the Russians themselves
died like flies."
May 2nd. — General Monthoion very ill. Napo-
leon expressed much anxiety about him.
* I do not Bpeak Tuacui.
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 17
4th. — ^Baron Stunner came inside of Longwood,
and had some conversation with the orderly officer
relative to Napoleon.
6th. — Saw Napoleon to whom I gave a book, en-
titled^ Maeurs et Coutumes des Corses, which he
ran over, frequently laughing very heartily at se-
veral of the anecdotes. The author, he said, was
an ignorantacclOy and wholly unacquainted with
many circumstances relative to the history, ma-
nufactures, &c. of Corsica ; in fact, that he was
either a place-hunter, or a man who had been
ben hastonato* by the Corsicans. That many of
the anecdotes he related respecting assassinations
which had been committed were tioie, but that
the Corsicans were not in the habit of assassinating
strangers; that they were the best friends and
the worst enemies in the world; that those who
espoused a party, remained unchangeable. "Even
I," continued he, " in the height of my power,
could never induce the English party to change
their opinions, although I offered to receive them
all into my service."
" The admiral," said he, " held a long conversa-
tion with me a day or two ago. He praised the
governor ; said that I was mistaken in him ; that
he was an extremely well informed man, and had
a good heart at bottom* He was very anxious
* Well beaten.
VOL. n. D
18 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
that I should meet him, on an opportunity that
soon would be afforded by the arrival of the am-
bassador, when he suggested that we might meet
as if nothing had previously occurred. I told him
that he did not know the governor ; that until he
changed his conduct I would not see him, unless
by force. I observed that he might, without any
discussion, alter his restrictions, and treat me as I
would myself treat a person placed in a similar
situation : in fact, in a word, put matters upon the
same footing as he found them or nearly so : but
that it would answer no purpose for us to meet.
I complain of the ill treatment I receive. He says,
' I comply with my instructions.' This is always
his excuse. Now, although I am convinced that
his instructions extend no further than that he
should take every precaution to prevent my escape,
and otherwise to treat me well, and with as little
possible expense as may be, yet I could not well
tell him that he asserted a falsehood. All that I
could reply would be by making a comparison (in
doing which you must always exaggerate), by
likening him to a hangman, who, while he puts a
rope round your neck to despatch you, only exe-
cutes his orders ; but that is not a reason that you
should be obliged to make a companion of him,
or receive him until the moment of execution. —
I could only say this, and tell him that if such
were his orders, he had disgraced himself by ac-
A TOICB FROM ST. HBLRNA. 19
cepting a dishonourable employment ; that if he
had not, he was still worse, in being the contriver
of such. As long as he treats me d la Botany
Bay, so long will not I see him. I certainly
would understand not to see the commissioners,
and not to enter houses which he said he sus-
pected."
" I told the admiral,** continued he, ** that I
hoped the Prince Regent would know of the
treatment which I receive here. The admiral
said, that if I thought myself aggrieved, I ought
to complain, either to the Regent or to the minis-
ters. I think it would be a degradation to me to
complain to ministers who have treated me so ill,
and who act from hatred. The admiral strove to
excuse the governor, and declared that he knew it
was the intention of the English government to
treat me well, and that there must be some mis-
take or misconception, which would be rectified.
I told him, that you English were great ^.goisteSj
very fond of excusing each other, and of praising
your country and yourselves ; but that to strangers
every thing was justifiable. I spoke to him about
the detention of the French prisoners, and the re-
ception of the prisoners who had broken their
parole, of which I had been accused. I explained,
that the English were the first to begin f here
Napoleon gave an explanation similar to that
which appears in a former part of this work.
90 A T01C& FBOM ST. HELENA.
^ I then published in the Moniteur the names of
several English who had violated their parole and
escaped, before any Frenchman had done the
like. For it was much easier to escape in France,
than in England, as the English prisoners were
allowed great liberty, and much more space than
the French were in England. But the fact is,
that your ministers hate me, because I acted
vigorously, and always retaliated upon them.
When they blockaded France, I blockaded Eng-
land, and I always made reprisals, which tiiey
had not been accustomed to under the feeble
government of the Bourbons, whom they used to
insult at their pleasure. I told him that the Eng-
lish would hereafter repent of having prosecuted
the war with so much hatred against me. If they
had left me in France after my return from Elba,
all Europe would have been quiet, France con-
tented, no internal commotions, nor hatred against
the English, for forcing on the nation a king whom
they detested. The revolutionary spirit which
exists now against the actual government of
France, may find its way to England, and if so,
there is no knowing how it may terminate.**
" I told him also," continued Napoleon, '^ that
I had been well pleased at the capture of Copen-
hagen, because it made bitter enemies of the
Danes, without injuring me. For it was not
ships that I wanted, but naval officers and sea-
k VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 21
men who were all left beliind to man ray vessels.
I also informed him, that the capture and robbery
of the Spanish frigates pleased me ; as it caused
you to be hated in Spain, where you might have
been and were popular before, and besides, was
unworthy of a great nation. I told him that I did
not receive money direct from Spain. That I got
bills upon Vera Cruz, which certain agents sent by
circuitous routes, by Amsterdam, Hamburgh, and
other places, to London, (as I had no direct com-
munication.) The bills were discounted by mer-
chants in London, to whom ten per cent., and
sometimes a premium, was paid as their reward.
Bills were then given by them upon different
bankers in Europe for the greatest part of the
amount, and the remainder in gold, which last
was brought over to France by the smugglers.
Even for the equipping my last expedition, a great
part of the money was raised in London." I asked
if he meant that, after his return from Elba? He
replied, " yes, that last expedition."
" I told the admiral," continued Napoleon,
** that you had been the first violators of the peace
of Amiens ; that your ministers, who boast so much
of not having acknowledged me as emperor, were
so conscious, themselves, of having been the vio-
lators of the treaty, that they offered, through
Lord Whitworth, to give thirty millions of francs,
and to assist, as much as lay in their power, to
22 A VOICB FROM 8T. HSLBNA.
make me king of France^ if I would consent to
the English retaining Malta.** I took the liberty
of asking to whom the proposal had been made ?
^ To Malhouet, who was minister to Louis a short
time ago,** replied the emperor. " My answer to
this offer was, ' Tell Lord Whitworth that I will
owe nothing to strangers, or to their interference.
If the French nation do not of themselves, create
me king, foreign influence shall never be employed
by me to obtain it.' The fact is, that your minis-
ters always deceived the people by false and artful
representations, and are of the opinion expressed
by the great Lord Chatham, ^ that if England
acted towards France with justice for twenty-four
houi*s she would be ruined.*
"The admiral,** continued Napoleon, "is very
well informed about the history of the last years ;
is really an Englishman, and sticks up for his
country whenever he can ; but notwithstanding,
he could not contradict several of the assertions I
made to him, because they were incontrovertible
facts. He returned frequently to the proposed
interview with the ambassador, which he is most
desirous should take place. I am convinced that
no good would arise from it. I wish,** added he,
" that he should know ray sentiments on these
matters.**
I remarked, that perhaps his refusing to see the
ambassador^ might be construed into an insult to
A VOICE FROM bf. HELENA. 23
the British government, and to the nation which
he represented. Napoleon replied, " it cannot
admit of such a construction. He is not sent as
an ambassador to St. Helena. He was ambassa-
dor to the emperor of China, and at St. Helena
can only appear in his private capacity. Conse-
quently, there is no necessity for his being intro-
duced by the governor. If he wants to see me,
let him go to Bertrand, without being accom-
panied by any of the governor's people, then we
will see about it. However, I think it would be
better for both that it should not take place. For
if I receive him, I must put on an appearance
of cheerfulness, and clothe my face with smiles ;
it is contrary to my custom to receive any person
otherwise. Then, I must either be obliged to
make complaints to a stranger of the barbarous
treatment I receive here, which is lessening to the
dignity and character of a man like nie ; or else, I
must furnish an opportunity to this governor, to
fill the amdassador's head with lies, and make
him observe, that I am so well treated, that I have
made no complaints, that I want for nothing, that
for me on a tous les dgards possibles, and enable
him to write home a bulletin of falsehoods, with
an appeal to the ambassador in proof of the truth
of them. So that it would place me in an awk-
ward dilemma, and one which it would be better
to avoid."
34 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
He was very anxious in his enquiries about
CJaptain Meynel, who was very dangerously ilL
General Montholon much better.
I shewed him the Naval Chronicle, in which
there was a long article about the death of Cap-
tain Wright. " No person,** said Napoleon, " as-
serts positively that he had seen him murdered ;
and the principal evidence who testifies to the be-
lief of it, was a man who was himself in prison.
Let him be asked for what crime he was thrown
into a gaol. It is not a place for honest people, or
for those whose testimony could be relied upon.
If I had acted properly, I should have ordered
Wright to be tried by a military commission as a
spy, and shot within twenty-four hours, which by
the laws of war I was entitled to do. What would
your ministers, or even your parliament have done
to a French captain that was discovered landing
assassins in England to murder King George ? If
I had, in retaliation of the assassins sent to murder
me, sent others to murder ♦♦♦ and the Bourbon
princes, what would have been done to the cap-
tain of the vessel who had landed them in Eng-
land, if he were taken? They would not have
been so lenient as I was with Wright. They
would have had him tried and executed sur le
champr
7th. — ^Napoleon very particular in inquiring
about Captain Meynel, whose death he observed
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA, 25
would grieve him, as he had rair cTun brave homme.
Had some further conversation witli him relative to
the prisoners made at the commencement of the
war. I said, that I believed he had demanded
that the ships as well as the prisoners made in
them should be given up, in exchange for those
detained in France. He replied, that he did not
recollect that he had demanded the ships. ** The
only reason," added he, ** that your government
would give as a right for detaining them as pri-
soners was, that they Iiad alvoays done so in 'pre-
ceding warSj and that it would be lessening to the
dignity of the government to give them up, or to
consider as prisoners of war those who had been
detained by me in France. To this I answered,
that they had always done so, because they had to
deal with imhecilles^ and people who knew not how
to act vigorously, and were afraid to retaliate. As
to the exchange of prisoners, I offered to effect it
in the* following manner, viz. to send three thou-
sand men, consisting of two thousand Spaniards
and Portuguese, and one thousand English, to a
certain place, there to be exchanged for three thou-
sand French, and so on until all were exchanged.
Your government would not consent to this, but
required that all the English should be exchanged
at first; although the others were your allies, and
were taken fighting by your side. As soon as
the French prisoners in England heard of this
VOL. II, E
26 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
proposal^ they wrote over the strongest letters
possible, protesting against, and praying me not
to consent' to such terms, alleging, that as soon
as your ministers had got all the English pri-
soners, amounting I believe to ten thousand,
they would under some pretext break off the ex-
change ;* and that they (the French prisoners,)
who were already treated badly enough, would
then be subjected to every species of brutality
and ill treatment, as the English would no longer
be afraid of reprisals. What I most regret," added
he, " and am most to blame for is, that during
my reign, I had not caused the English prisoners
to be put on board of pontons^ and treated
exactly as you treated mine in England. In-
deed, I had given orders to have it done, and
to place them in ships in the Scheldt. Decr^s,
the minister of marine, although he hated you as
much as a man could do, opposed it on the
ground of the expense, the difficulty of effect-
ing it, and other reasons. Tliere were numbers
of reports also from your transport board, testi-
fying the good treatment which the prisoners en-
* I have some recollection (although I cannot find it in my jour-
nal) that Napoleon also told me that he had proposed to the English
minister that hoth powers should simultaneously land tlieir respective
prisoners in such ports in England and France as miglit have been
previously agreed upon^ which proposal was not agreed to by lus ma-
jesty's ministen.
V VOlCls: FUOM ST. HELENA. 27
joyed, which imposed upon me for a time ; but, as
I found out from the prisoners themselves after-
wards, they were filled with lies, like the reports
that are sent from this island. I was also so much
occupied with affairs of a more important nature,
that I forgot it." I took the liberty of observing,
that I hoped he did not credit what he saw in
Fillet's libel. ** No, no," replied Napoleon, " I
believe no exaggerated statement of the kind.
I reason from the testimonies of the prisoners
themselves and from the circumstances. In the
first place, it was le comble de la harharie to put
any prisoners, especially soldiers, in ships at all.
Even sailors like to be on shore. I see that the
admiral likes to live on shore, as well as every
officer and seaman who can effect it. Man is
bom on shore, and it is natural for him to like it.
Your ministers said that they had not any for-
tresses to put them in. Then, why not have ex-
changed or sent them to Scotland, instead of
massacreing them in pontons. I am very sorry
that I did not carry my intentions into execution,
as in the event of a war fifty or sixty years hence
between the two countries, it will be said, but
even Napoleon suffered the English to put the
French prisoners in pontons without having re-
taliated. My intentions were to have put all the
milords and the principal prisoners in pontons^ and
to have made them undergo precisely the same
28 A vorcr: from st. hblbna.
treat iiKut as that practised upon my prisoners in
the prison-ships in England. This would have had
the desired effect, and would have been beneficial
to both parties. For the complaints of "my lords^
to which I would have allowed every publicity
to be given, would have produced such an out-
cry, such a sensation amongst you English, who
are dgdistes^ by making you feel yourselves that
which you inflicted upon others, that your olig-
archy would have been obliged to remove the
French prisoners from the pontons^ which would
have been followed by a similar step on my part.
I would have left the canaille in the fortresses, as
they, poor devils, bad nothing to do witb the
measures of your ministers, who indeed, cared
but little what they suffered. I would not,** con-
tinued Napoleon, " desire a better testimonial in
my favour than that of the prisoners of the diffe-
rent nations who had been in France. Many of
your English sailors did not want to be exchanged.
They did not wish to be sent again on board of
their floating prisons. The Russians declared that
they were much better than in their own country,
after they discovered that their heads were not to
be cut off, which they at first had been persuaded
to believe : and the Austrians would not have
escaped, even if allowed."
^* Another shocking act of your ministers," said
Napoleon, " was the bundling (jet^) of some hun-
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 29
dred wounded and disabled soldiers who had been
born in countries under nie, and were wounded
fighting your battles against me, on the coast of
Holland, where they were liable by the laws of
the country to be tried and shot within twenty-
four hours, for having carried arms against it.
When it was reported to me, and application made
to try them, I said. * Let them go on. Let them
land as many as they like. They will tell what
treatment they have received, and will prevent
others of my troops from deserting and joining
the English.' To say nothing of the inhumanity
of the practice,** said Napoleon, lifting up his
hands with emotion, " it was very bad policy on
the part of your ministers, as these poor mutilated
wretches told it evei7 where ; and I also caused
the names, countries where wounded, &c., of many
of them, to be published in the Moniteur."
I endeavoured to controvert the tenor of some
of his assertions ; but in consequence of not being
sufficiently well acquainted with the circiun-
stances, I could make but a feeble effort against a
man who was master of the subject, to say notliing
of the difficulty of contending against such an an-
tagonist.
llth. — ^Told Sir Hudson Lowe what Napoleon
said relative to the restrictions, and the com-
missioners, &c. His excellency asked why I had
30 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
not told him this before? I replied, because it had
only occurred yesterday, and that having often
made him communications of a similar nature be-
fore, I had not thought it important. He observed,
that it was of great importance, as having taken
place since he had sent his answer to their obser-
vations upon his restrictions. He then observed,
that the principal cause of all the difficulties which
he had to combat with the French people had
arisen from Sir George Cockbum's having, upon
his own authority, and beyond his instructions,
taken upon himself to grant much more indul-
gence, and a much greater space for limits with-
out being accompanied by a British officer, than
he had any right to do ; not only had he not the
right, but it was contrary to his instructions, and
that on his arrival, he had been astonished at Sir
George Cockbum's conduct. He then spoke for
some time about the letter which had been written
by Madame Bertrand to Marquis Montchenu ;
which he seemed to consider as a very heinous
offence. I observed that Count Bertrand had
said, that at the time the letter was written, there
had existed no prohibition against epistolary cor-
respondence with persons domiciliated in the
island as the marquis was, and that since that
letter had been written by Madame Bertrand, six
sealed letters had been received by her, amongst
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 31
\7hich was one from Sir George Bingbam. His
excellency did not appear to be well pleased with
this observation of Count Bertrand*s.
The quantity of wood and coals allowed not
being nearly sufficient, Count Montholon desired
me to represent to the governor, that in the admi-
ral's time, when there were not by any means so
many fires as at present, there was more than
double the quantity of fuel allowed ; that for some
time they had been obliged to bum the wine-
cases, and to request of him, if he did not think
proper to increase the quantity furnished by go-
vernment, that he would give directions to the
purveyor to supply it, on their paying for it them-
selves* Went to Plantation House and explained
to the governor the above communication, parti-
cularizing the number of fires; who, after some
discussion, replied, that he would give orders for
an additional supply to be furnished,
12/A. — ^Napoleon in his bath. Had some con-
versation about the governor. "If," said he, "the
governor on his arrival here had told Bertrand,
that in consequence of orders from his govern-
ment, he was under the necessity of imposing fresh
restrictions, and had described the nature of them,
directing that in future we should conform our-
selves to them, instead of acting in the underhand
manner he has done, I would have said, this is a
man who does his duty clearly and openly with-
32 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA^
out tricks or shuffling. It is necessary that there
should be in this world such men as gaolers,
scavengers, butchers, and hangmen ; but still one
does not like to accept of any of those employ-
ments. If I were in the tower of London, I might
possibly have a good opinion of the gaoler, from
the manner in which he did his duty ; but I would
neither accept of his situation, nor make a com-
panion of him. Captain H * * told Madame Ber-
trand, that in the whole British dominions, a
M'orse man than this gaoler could not be selected
as governor ; and that we should very shortly
find such to be the case. In fact he described
him to be just as we have found him. But as we
thought that he was desirous of inducing Madame
Bertrand to leave the island with her family, it was
supposed that he had exaggerated the imperfec-
tions of this man, although we evidently saw that
there was something in it."
After some conversation on the same subject,
Napoleon said, " When I was at Elba, the Prin-
cess of Wales sent to inform me of her intention
to visit me. I, however, on her own account,
sent back an answer begging of her to defer it a
little longer, that I might see how matters would
turn out; adding, that in a few months I would
have the pleasure of receiving her. I knew that
at the time it could not fail to injure the princess,
and berefore I put it off. It is astonishinp^ tKj^f
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 33
she desired it^ for she had no reason to be attached
to me, her father and brother bcin.^ killed fight-
ing against me. She went afterwards to see Marie
Louise at ♦ % and I believe that they are great
friends.**
"Prince Leopold," continued he, "was one of
the handsomest and finest young men in Paris, at
the time he was there. At a m^isquerade given
by the queen of Naples, Leopold made a conspi-
cuous and elegant figure. The Princess Char-
lotte must doubtless be very contented and very
fond of him. He was near being one of my aid-
de-camps, to obtain which he had made interest
and even applied ; but by some means, very fortu-
nately for himself, it did not succeed, as probably
if he had, he would not have been chosen to be a
future king of England. Most of the young princes
in Germany," continued he, "solicited to be my
aid-de-canips, and Leopold was then about eigh-
teen or nineteen years of age."
Some conversation now took |)Uice relative to
the infernal machine, and the dill'erent plots vvhieh
had been fornied to assiissinate liini. '' Many ot
the plots of the Bourbons," said he, "and the * * ^
were betrayed to me by Frenchmen, en^ployed
and well paid by themselves, and in their confi-
dence, but who in reality were agents of the French
police. By means of them, 1 became acquainted
with their plans, and the names of the contrivers of
VOL. II. F
34 A VOICE PROM ST. HELRNA.
the plot, one of whom was the Comte d'***. Louis^
the present king, always refused to give his consent.
These agents had conferences with the Bourbon
princes, and with some of your ministers, especi-
ally with Mr. fir***, under-secretary of state, and
rendered an account of every thing to the police
If I had acted right, I should have followed the
example of Cromwell, who on the discovery of
the first attempt made to assassinate him, the plot
of which had been hatched in France, caused it to
be signified to the French king, that if the like
occurred again, he, by way of reprisal, would
order assassins to be hired to murder him and a
Stuart. Now I ought to have publicly signified,
that on the next attempt at assassination, I would
cause the same to be made upon king *** and
the Bourbon princes, to accomplish which last
indeed, I had only to say that I would not punish
the projectors."
13/A. — ^Application made by me to Major Gor-
requer (on the part of the maitre d'h6ti-4) to re-
quest that the governor would give directions to
Mr. Breame (the company's farmer) to let the
establishment have two calves monthly, as Napo-
leon was partial to veal, and Mr. Breame luid
refused to dispose of them without leave from the
governor.
P(Tjnission was accordingly granted by Sir
Hudson Lowe to let the Prench have two calves
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 35
inopthly, for which the farmer was lo be paid by
the French themselves.
14th. — ^Napoleon in \nery good spirits. Asked
me ^'why I had dined in camp yesterday?" I re-
plied, "Because there was nothing to eat at Long-
wood." He laughed heartily at this, and observed,
*^that certainly was the best reason in the world."
Afterwards he conversed for some time about
Moreau, and said that he was by no means a
man of that superior talent which the English
supposed ; that he was a good general of division,
b«t not adapted for the command of a great army.
** Moreau was brave," said he, "indolent, and a
hon v'lvanL He did nothing at his quartier general
but loll on a sofa, or walk about with a pipe in
his mouth. He scarcely ever read a book. His
disposition was naturally good, but he was in-
fluenced by his wife and mother-in-law, who were
two intriguers. I recommended Moreau to marry
her, at the desire of Josephine, who loved her be-
cause she was a creole. Moreau had fallen greatly
in public estimation on account of his conduct
towards Pichegru.* After Leoben, the senate of
• "Wliile Napoleon was at Moscow, Count Daru received a let-
ter from Madame Moreau praying of him to aisk the emperor to
permit her to return to France for a few months on private and
indispensable business. Paru knowing that the best mode of ob-
taining any thing from Napoleon was by being candid and open,
s}iewe<l him the letter, *' Um" replied tlie emperor, " elle doit
3G A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
Venice were foolish enough to stir up a rebellion
against the French armies, without being either
sufficiently strong themselves, or having adequate
assistance from other powers to promise the
slightest hope of success. In consequence of this,
I caused Venice to be occupied by the French
troops. An agent of the Bourbons, the Count
d'Entraigues, of whom I suppose you have heard
itre venu€f et elle doit dejd. itrr repartie." Daru said that a woman
could not be dangerous. "Elle vient intriguer," answeied Na-
poleon^ ** Perhaps you are one of thu§e who tliink tliat Moreau
Is a good citizen?" "Sire," replied Daru> "je vruis tjue sous If
rapport du eivxtme et du pntriotismef le carnctbr* de Morr^n est iw-
attaquable/' " Eh bten, vous vous trompez" said Napoleon, and the
■ubject was dropped. At Dresden, in 1813, while Napoleon was
at breakfast along with Mar^chal Victor and Daru^ a Russian
flag of truce was announced. After the person who bore it hail
accomplished his mission, Napoleon asked him some questions
relative to the disorder which he had observed in the advanced
posts of the enemy's army on the preceding day, and if tlie Rus-
sians had not lost some officer of distinction. The officer replied,
" No." " Cepeudant," said Napoleon, " il y a ev du desurdre ; d
tel poste on a emporti quelqunn blesti ou tiU" " Je nc aache ptu"
replied the officer, " que nous ayons perdu personnc, d mvitu que
votre majestS ne vcuille parler du GSnSral Moreau^ qui a iti hlcssc d
mart aux avant postei." " Le Ghiiral Morcaul" repeated Napo-
leon, and afterwards making a sign with his head to Daru, " rh
bien r. . . . Daru instantly recollected the conversjition at Mos-
cow, when Napoleon had made use of the same words, at wliicli time
he supposed that the emperor's opinion had been inflncnt'ed by per-
sonal motives, and allowed that he was now obliged to acknowledge
that he had judged right, and that Moreau was far from being a good
citizen.
A VOICB FROM 8T. HBLENA. 37
ID England^ was there at tne time. Fearing the
consequences, he escaped out of Venice, but ou
his way to Vienna (I think he said) he was arrested
on the Brenta by Bernadotte, with {dl his papers.
As soon as it. was known who be was, he was
sent to me, being esteemed a man of some impor-
tance. Amongst his papers we found his plans,
and the correspondence of Pichegru with the
Bourbons. I had them immediately attested by
Berthicr and two others, sealed and sent to the
directory, as they were of the greatest conse-
quence. *! then examined d*£ntraigues myself,
who, when he saw that the contents of his papei*s
were known, thought there was no use in attempt-
ing concealment any longer, and confessed every
thing. He even told me more than I could possibly
have expected ; let me into the secret plans of the
Bourbons, with the names of their English parti-
zans, and, in fact, the information I obtained from
him was so full and so important, that it deter-
mined me how to act on the moment, and was
the chief cause of the measures I then pursued,
and of the proclamation which I issued to the
army, warning them, that, if necessary, they would
be called upon to cross the mountains, and re-
enter their native country, to crush the traitors
who were plotting against the existence of the re-
public. At this time Pichegru was chief of the le-
gislative body. The Count d'Eiitntigues was so
88 A VOICE FROM 8T. HBLBNA.
communicative, that I really felt obliged to him,
and I may say that he almost gained me. He was
a man of talent and acuteness, intelligent and
pleasant to convei*se with, though he proved after-
wards to be a mauvah sujet. Instead of putting
him in confinement, I allowed him to go where he
pleased in Milan, gave him every indulgence, and
did not even put him in surveillance. A few days
afterwards I received oin.lei's from the directory to
cause him to be shot, or what in those times
was equivalent to it, to try him by a military
commission, and sentence to be immediately exe-
cuted. 1 wrote to the directory that he had
given very useful information, and did not de-
serve such a return ; and finally, that I could not
execute it ; tliat if they still insisted upon shooting
him, they niust do it themselves. Shortly after
this, d'Entraigues escaped into Switzerland, from
whence the coquin had the impudence to write a
libel, accusing me of having treated him in the
most barbarous numner, and even with having put
him in irons ; when the fact was, that I had al-
lowed him so much liberty, that it was not until
after he had escaped for several days that his
flight was discovered, and then only by having
seen the arrival of the Count d'Entraigues notified
in the Swiss papers, which at first was thought
to be impossible, but on sending to examine his
quarters^ it was found to be true. This coaduci
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 39
of d'Entraigues greatly displeased all who at Milan
had been witnesses of the indulgent manner in
which I treated him. Amongst others, some am-
bassadors and diplomatic characters were so much
offended, that they drew up and signed a declara-
tion contradictory of these accusations. In con-
sequence of the information gained from d'Entrai-
gues, Pichegru was banished to Cayenne.**
" Immediately after the seizure of d'Entraigues,
Desaix came to see me. Conversing with him
about Pichegru, I remarked that we had been
greatly deceived, and expressed my surprise that
his treason had not been discovered sooner. * Why,'
said Desaix, 'we knew of it three months ago.'
* How can that be possible ?' I replied. Desaix
then recounted to me the manner in which Moreau,
with whom he had been at that time, had found
in the baggage of the Austrian general Kiinglin,
a correspondence of Pichegru's, in which his
plans in favour of the Bourbons were detailed,
and those of the false manoeuvres which he in-
tended to put in practice. I asked Desaix if this
had been connnunicated to the directory? He
replied, 'no,' that Moreau did not wish to ruin
Pichegru ; and had desired him to say nothing
about it. I told Desaix that he had acted very
wrong; that he ought immediately to have sent
all tlie papers to the directory, as I had done; that
in fact it was tacitly conniving at the destruction
40 A VOICK FROM ST. HELENA.
of liis native count rv. As soon as Moreau was
informed that Pichegru was found out, he de-
nounced him to the army as a tr^utor, and sent to
the directory the papers containing the proofs of
it, which he had kept concealed in his possession
for some months, and allowed Pichegru to be
chosen chief of the legislative body ; although he
knew that he was plotting the destruction of the
republic. Moreau was accused this time, and
with justice, of double treachery. * Thou hast
first,* it was said, ' betrayed thy countiy, by con-
cealing the treason of Pichegru, and afterwards
thou hast uselessly betrayed thy friend, by dis-
closing what thou oughtest to have made known
before ; but which, when concealed by thee until
it was discovered by other means, ought to have
ever remained a secret in thy breast.' Moreau
never recovered the esteem of the public again."
I mentioned the retreat of Moreau, and asked
if he had not displayed great military talents in
it r " That retreat," replied the emperor, " instead
of being what you say, was the greatest blunder
that ever Moreau committed. If he had, instead
of retreating, made a ddtouvy and marched in the
rear of Prince Charles (I think he said), he would
have destroyed or taken the Austrian army. —
The directory were jealous of me, and wanted to
divide, if possible, the military reputation ; and as
they could not give credit to Moreau for a victory
A^i-II^OCCS FROM ST. HE&C^NA. 41
they did for a retreat, which they caused to be
extolled ia the highest terms ; although even the
Austrian generals condemned Moreau for having
done it. You may probably hereafter,'* continued
Napoleon, **have an opportunity of hearing tlie
opinion of French generals on the subject, who
were present, and you will find it consonant to
mine. Instead of credit, Moreau merited the
greatest censure and disgrace for it. As a general,
Pichegru had much more talent than Moreau.**
" Moreau ridiculed the idea of the formation of
the legion of honour. When he heaixl from some
one that it was also intended to be given to those
who had distinguished themselves in science, and
not to be confined to feats of arms alone, he re-
plied, * Well, then, I shall apply for my cook to
be made a commander of the order, as his talents
are most superior in the science of cookery."*
In reply to some arguments which I offered to
convince iiim that * * * and the English * * *
** were ignorant of that part of Pichegru's plot
which embraced assassination, Napoleon replied,
" I do not suppose that ♦*** or any other of tlie
English ***** actually said to Georges or Pi-
chegru, 'you must kill the first consul;' but they
well knew that such fomied the chief and indeed
the only hope of success ; and yet they, knowing
this, furnished them with money, and provided
ships to land them in France, which, to all intents
VOL. II. o
42 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA.
and purposes, rendered them accomplices ; and if
** * had been tried by an English jury, he would
have been condemned as such. Lord * * * ♦ took
great pains to persuade the foreign courts that
they were ignorant of the project of assassination,
and wrote several letters, in which he acknow-
ledged that the English had landed men for the
purpose of overturning the French government ;
but denied the other. However, he made a very
lame business of it, and none of the continental
governments gave any credit to his assertions. It
was naturally condemned as, on the ground of
retaliation, none of the sovereigns or rulers were
safe. It was at the time that I had it in contem-
plation to effect a descent in England. Your ♦♦♦
did not want to get rid of * Napoleon Bonaparte,*
but of ' the first consul.* Fox had some conver-
sations with me on the subject of the 3rd Nivose.
He too, like you, denied that the * * * were privy
to the scheme of assassination, but faintly, after
hearing what I had to say, and condemned the
whole transaction. Indeed his own measures
were quite opposed to it. The conduct of the
Emperor of Germany also formed a striking con*
trast. When I had possession of his capital, he,
through religious motives, positively and with sin-
cerity prohibited any attempt of the kind, which
might have been executed daily, as I often walked
about without suspicion.**
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 43
During this interview, I mentioned that Berna-
dotte had been strongly suspected of being luke-
warm in the cause of the allies, if not of playing a
double part ; that he was called Charles Jean
Charlatan, and supposed to be likely to join him
if any reverse happened to the allies. Napoleon
replied, ^ Probably they called him Charlatan,
because he is a Gascon, a little inclined to boast-
ing. As to joining me, if I had been successful,
he would have done no more than all the rest.
The Saxons, Wirtemburghers, Bavarians, and all
those who abandoned me when I was unfortu-
nate, would have joined me again if I had been
successful. After Dresden, the Emperor of Aus-
tria went upon his knees to me,* called me his
dear soHj and begged for the sake of his very rfear,
dear daughter, to whom I was married, not to ruin
him altogether, but to be reconciled to him. Had
it not been for the desertion of the Saxons with
their artillery, I should have gained a victory at
Leipsic, and the allies would have been far differ-
ently situated."
16M. — ^Napoleon in his bed-room, complained
• This is a rigid translation of the words used by Napoleon, and
were not intended to be understood, as must be evident, in their li«
teral sense, but merely as a forcible manner of making me compre*
hend the earnestness with which the Emperor of Austria made the
application. Napoleon frequently used the same expression in siml«
lar instancos.
44 A VOICB FROM 8T. H8LINA.
of headachy and had his feet immersed in a pail of
hot water. At first he was rather melancholy^
but subsequently became tolerably lively and com*
municative. j(^He spoke about I^ypt^ and asked
many questions ; amongst others, whether a
three-decker could enter the harbour of Alexan-
dria without having been lightened ? I replied,
that I thought it might, or if not, that it might
be very easily lightened.* Napoleon observe4j
that he had sent an officer named Julien, from
Cairo, with peremptory orders to Brueys to enter
the harbour of Alexandria, but that unfortunately
he was killed by the Arabs on the way. ** I
called," continued he, *^a fort which I built at
Rosetta after him.** He asked me if I knew
that fort, to which I replied in the affirmative.
" It was surprising,** continued he, " how Brueys
could have thought of engaging at anchor \dtli«
out having first fortified the island with twenty
or thirty pieces of cannon, and having brought
out a Venetian sixty-four, and some frigates which
he had in the port of Alexandria. In a conversar
tion which I had with Brueys some weeks before,
on board of the Orient, he himself demonstrated
to me that a fleet ought never to engage at anchor;
at least that a fleet which did so, must always be
* When at Alexandria, I saw the Tigre and Canopui enter ih*
harbour. • Thejr were 80«>giin ships of the laigeat class, and dvawaa
much water as a three-decker.
A VOICS FROX ST. HfiUvNA* 45
beaten on account of the facility which the attack-
ing ships would have of taking up their position ;
and that an order (whether from Brueys, or not,
I did not understand) actually existed prohibit-
ing it. Notwithstanding which, Brueys himself
adopted it afterwards. " Brueys," continued he,
*^ always believed, that if Nelson attacked him, it
would be made on his right, thinking his left inex-
pugnable on account of the island, and had pre-
pared matters accordingly. I endeavoured to
convince him that a ship or two of his left might
be taken by a superior force, and an opening af-
forded thereby for the enemy's fleet to enter."
I observed, that if Brueys had anchored head
and stem, he might have gone in much closer to
the shore, as he would not have been obliged to
make an allowance for the ships to swing, and
consequently no space would have been left for
Nelson to pass between the French fleet and the
land. Napoleon appeared to coincide in tliis opi-
nion, and said that he would ask the opinion of
the admiral on the subject. He added, that prior
to the departure of Julien, orders had been sent to
Brueys, that he should not quit the coast of
Egypt until after he had ascertained the physical
impossibility of the fleet's being able to enter tlie
harbour of Alexandria. If possible, he was or-
dered to carry it into execution; if not, to proceed
to Corfu with his fleet. "Now, Brueys," conti-
V?
46 A VOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA.
nued he, " not having ascertained the fact, as on
the contrary, Barr6 asserted that it was practica-
ble, of which I was also myself convinced, did not
think himself authorized to go away, and at the
same time was afraid to enter the harbour even if
possible, thinking it hazardous without having
been first assured that we were in full possession
of the country. He was ignorant of my success
at Cairo until twentv-four hours before he was at-
tacked by Nelson. In this manner he remained in
balance, and negk»cted to secure himself More-
over, he never expected that Nelson would have
attacked him with an inferior force. If he had
brought out his frigates, and well fortified the
island. Nelson would either never have attacked
him, or would have been beaten if he had. It was
with great difficulty that I made Brucys depart
from Toufon. After sailing, he wanted to send four
ships to attack Nelson, who was lying with three
dismasted vessels at ***, but I would not allow it,
as the success of the enterprize was of too much im-
portance to allow the capture of two or three ships
to be put into competition with it. Brueys after-
wards wished to separate the fleet, which I would
not permit. Brueys was a man of unquestionable
talent ; but he wanted that decisive resolution
that enables a man to seize an opportunity pre-
sented by the moment ; which I conceive to be
the most essential quality in a general^ or admiraL
A TOICB FROM BT. HELENA. 47
Probably from want of experience, he had not that
confidence in his own ability and the propriety of
his plans, which rarely any thing else can impart.
Unless nature forms a man of so peculiar a stamp
as to be enabled to see and decide instantaneously^
nothing but experience can give it. I, myself^
commanded an army at twenty-two years of age,
but nature made me different from most others.
K Nelson had met Brueys' fleet in going to
Egypt, I know not what might have happened, as
I had placed three hundred and fifty, or four hun-
dred veterans in each line-of-battle ship, who were
trained to the guns twice a-day, and had given
orders that each ship should engage one of yours.
Your vessels were small, and I believe not well-
manned, and I gave this order to prevent your ob-
taining any advantages by your superior skill in
manoeuvring.''
Here some discussion took place upon the com-
parative merit of the English and French seamen.
I urged, that English sailors fought with more
confidence ; that if any accidents happened to the
ships in action, they would remedy them much
sooner, and would fight longer than the French
seamen. Napoleon said, he agreed in every thing
but the last. " Signor Dottore^' said he, " //
marinaro Francese e bravo quanto tlnglese. The
French soldiers had a great contempt for the
English troops at the beginning of the war, caused,
48 A VOICE FROM ST* HEh&HA*
perhaps, by the failure of the expeditions under
the Duke of York, the great want of alertness,
&e. in the English advanced posts, and the mis-
fortunes which befel your armies. In this they
were fools, as the English were well known to be
a brave nation. It was probably by a similar
error that Regnier was beaten by General Stuart;
as the French imagined that you would run away
and be driven into the sea. Regnier was a man
of talent, but more fit to give counsel to an army
of twenty or thirty thousand men, than to cohi*
mand one of five or six. Your troops, on that
day, were nearly all English, and RegnieKs were
chiefly Poles. It is difficult to conceive how little
the French soldiers thought of yours, until they
were taught the contrary. Of your seamen, they
always spoke in terms of respect, although thqr
would only allow that they were more expert and
quick, and not more brave than their own.**
" When,** continued Nopoleon, " I was at Tilsit,
with the Emperor Alexander and the King of
Prussia, / was the most ignorant of the three in
military affairs. These two sovereigns, especially
the King of Prussia, were completely au fait^ as
to the number of buttons there ought to be in front
of a jacket, how many behind, and the manner in
which the skirts ought to be cut. Not a tailor in
the army knew better than King Frederick, how
many measures of cloth it took to make a jacket.
A TOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 49
In fact,** continued he, laughing, ^^ I was nobody
in comparison with them. They continually tor-
mented me with questions about matters belong-
ing to tailors, of which I was entirely ignorant,
although, in order not to affront them, I answered
just as gravely as if the fate of an army depended
upon the cut of a jacket When I went to see
the King of Prussia, instead of a library, I found
he had a large room, like an iu-senal, furnished
with shelves and pegs, in which were placed
fifty or sixty jackets of A-arious modes. Every
day he changed his fashion, and put on. a diffe-
rent one. He was a tall, dry looking fellow, and
would give a good idea of Don Quixote. He at-
tached more importance to the cut of a dragoon
or a hussar uniform, than was necessary for the
salvation of a kingdom. At Jena, his army per«
formed the finest and most shewy manoeuvres pos-
sible, but I soon put a stop to their cogUonerie,
and taught them, that to fight^ and to execute
dazzling manoeuvres and wear splendid uniforms^
were very different affairs. If," added he, " the
French army had been commanded by a tailor,
the King of Prussia would certainly have gained
the day, from his superior knowledge in that art;
but as victories depend more upon the skill of the
general commanding the troops, than upon that
of the tailor who makes their jackets, he conse-
quently ^led.'*
VOL. lu • H
50 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
Tlie emperor then observed, that we allowed
too much baggage, and too many women to ac-
company our armies. " Women, when they are
bad,** said he, ^'are worse than men, and more
ready to commit crimes. The soft sex, when de-
graded, falls lower than the other. Women are
always much better, or much worse than men.
Witness the tricoteuses de Paris, during the revo-
lution. When I commanded at the Col de Tend^
a most mountainous and difficult country, to enter
which the army was obliged to pass over a nar-
row bridge, I had given directions that no wo-
men should be allowed to accompany it, as the
service was a most difficult one, and required the
troops to be continually on the alert. To inforce
this order, I placed two captains on the bridge,
with instructions, on pain of death, not to permit
a woman to pass. I went to the bridge myself
to see that my orders were complied with, where
I found a crowd of women assembled. As soon
as they perceived me, they began to revile me,
bawling out, * Oh, then, petit caporal, it is you
who have given orders not to let us pass.* I was
then called petit caporal by the army. Some
miles further on, I was astonished to see a consi-
derable number of women with the troops. I
immediately ordered the two captains to be put in
arrest, and brought before me, intending to have
them tried immediately. They protested their
Jl TOfCB FBOM ST. HELENA. 31
umocence, and asserted, that do urmiaa bad
crossed the bridge. I caused some of those dames
to be brtraght, when, to my astontshment, by their
own confession, I fonnd that thev had thfxiwB
the provisions that had been proTided for tbe
support of the army oat of some of tbe ca^»,
concealed themselves in them, and passed over
onperceived."
Napoleon observed, that he did not esteem the
English cavalry to be by any means eqnal to the
infistntry. The men, by some faalt, were not able
to stop the horses, and were liable to be cnt to
pieces, if, in the act of charging, it became neces-
sary to halt and retreat. That the horses were
accustomed to be fed too luxuriously, kept too
warm, and from what he had learned, greatly ne^
glected by the riders.
I offered some explanations about the quantity
of baggage allowed by Lord Wellington ; which I
f^aid did not exceed a small portmanteau for each
officer ; that only five women to a hundred men
were allowed to embark for foreign service; and
that new regulations had been adopted to prevent
the horses of the cavalry from being kept too
warm, or too highly pampered. Napoleon re-
plied, that he had been informed by French offi-
cers, that the baggage of one English officer in
France, or in Belgium, was greater than that of
ten French.
52 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA.
I8th. — Major Febrzcn came to Longwood.
Being asked .why be did not call npon the Ber
trands occasionally, he replied, that the governor
had signified his desire, that no communication^
beyond that of a common salutation, should take
place between the officers of the 53rd regiment and
the persons detained in St. Helena. He admitted
that the dark and mysterious conduct pursued
towards the French was of a nature likely to ex-
cite suspicion, but assured them, that in the 53rd
regiment there were no assassins to be found.
22nd. — ^Napoleon in his bath, and suffering from
headach. Had some conversation about Mont-
chenu, who, he said, would perfectly agree with
the idea which the English had formerly held of
the French, viz. that they were a nation of dandng-
masters ; in which opinion tbey must have been
strengthened during the revolution, by seeing ar-
rive amongst them a set of vain triflers, who had
been expelled their own country for their arro-
gance and tyranny. "This idea," added Napo-
leon, '^ was impressed so strongly upon the minds
of the English, that when I sent Duroc as ambas-
sador to Petersburg, Lord St. Helens, the English
envoy there, being curious to see what he was like,
took an opportunity of observing him closely on
his entrance into that capital ; and on being after-
wards asked his opinion of him, replied, * Ma /oi,
au moins il ria pas Vair danseur*; expressing there-
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 53
by that Duroc was the only Frenchman he had
seen who had not the appearance of a dancing-
master ; which I can readily believe, as probably
until that time he had seen no other Frenchmen
than imbectUef like Montchenu, with whom Eng-
land was over run. Vraiment c^est trop/ort, d^en-
voyer une telle bete id, to a settlement of a rival
nation, in order to render his own an object of
contempt, and confirm the English in their old
prejudices. Does not Montchenu/ said he, ^' an-
swer the idea you formerly entertained of the
French nation ?"
After leaving the bath. Napoleon spoke about
Russia, and said, that the European nations would
yet find that he had adopted the best possible
policy at the time he had intended to re-establish
the kingdom of Poland^ which would be the only
effectual means of stopping the increasing power
of Russia. It was putting a barrier, a dyke to
that formidable empire, which it was likely would
yet overwhelm Europe. " I do not think," said he,
" tliat I shall live to see it, but you may. You
are in the flower of your age, and may expect to
live thirty-five years longer. I think that you will
see that the Russians will either invade and take
India, or enter Europe with four hundred thou-
sand Cossacs and other inhabitants of the deserts,
and two hundred thousand real Russians. When
Paul was so violent against you, he sent to me for
5f A VOICE FROM ST. HELEN!
a plan to invade India. I sent him one^ with io-
stractions in detail.** (Here Napoleon shewed
me on a map the routes, and the different points
from whence the army was to have proceeded.)
^ From a port in the Caspian Sea he was to have
marched on to India. Russia,** continued he,
^ must either fall or aggrandize herself, and it is
natural to suppose that the latter will take place.
By invading other countries^ Russia has three
points to gain, — an increase of civilization and
polish, by rubbing against other powers,* the ac-
quisition of money, and the rendering friends to
herself the inhabitants of the deserts, with whom
some years back she was at war. The Cossac^
Calmucks, and other barbarians, who have ac-
companied the Russians into France, and other
parts of Europe, having once acquired a taste for
the luxuries of the south, will carry back to their
deserts the remembrance of places where they
had such fine women, fine living, and not only
will not themselves be able to endure their own
barbarous and sterile regions, but will communi-
cate to their neighbours a desire to conquer these
delicious countries. In all human probability,
Alexander will be obliged either to take India
from you, in order to gain riches and provide em-
ployment for them, and thereby prevent a revo-
ution in Russia ; or he will make an irruption
* The literal EngluJi of his wocde^
A TOICK FBOX ST. HELENA. 55
into Eiorope, at the head of some hundred thou-
sand of those barbarians on horseback, and two
hundred thousand infantry, and cany every tLing^
before him. What I say to you is confirmed
by the history of all ages, during which it has
been inTariably observed, that whenever those
barbarians had once got a taste of the south of
Europe, they always returned to attempt new
conquests and ravages, and have finally succeedixl
in making themselves masters of the country. It
is natural to man to desire to better bis condition ;
and those canaille, when they contrast their o\vn
deserts with the fine pro\'inces they have left, will
always have an itching after the latter, well know-
ing also, that no nation will retaliate, or attempt
to take their deserts from them. Those canallL^
continued he, '^ possess all the requisites for con-
quest. They are brave, active, patient of fatigue
and bad living, poor, and desirous of enriching
themselves. I think, however, that all depends
upon Poland. If Alexander succeeds in incorpo-
rating Poland with Russia, that is to say, in per-
fectly reconciling the Poles to the Russian govern-
ment, and not merely subduing the country, he has
gained the greatest step towards subduing India.
My opinion is, that he will attempt either the one
or the other of the projects I have mentioned, and
I think the last to be the most probable."
I observed that the distance was great, and that
5G A VOICB FROM ST. HBLDCA.
the Russians had not the money necessary for soch
a grand undertaking. ^^ The distance is nothing/*
replied the emperor ; ^^ supplies can be easily car-
ried upon camels, and the Cossacs will always iu«
sure a sufficiency of them. Money they will find
when they arrive there. The hope of conquest
would immediately unite armies of Cossacs and
Calmucks without expense. Hold out to them the
plunder of some rich cities as a lure, and thou*-
sands would flock to their banners. Europe,** con-
tinued he, ^^ and England in particular, ought to
have prevented the union of Poland with Russia.**
"A great object for England,** added Napoleon,
^ ought to be to keep Belgium always separate
from France ; as France having Belgium, might be
said, in case of a war with England, to have pos-
session of Hamburgh, &c. It would, however,
have been better for England that Austria had it,
than that it should be possessed by Holland, be-
cause Austria is stronger ; and when France arises
from her present state of nothingness, Holland
being too weak to stand alone, will always be at
her feet.**
^' If I had succeeded in my expedition to Rus-
sia.** added he, " I would have obliged Alexander
to accede to the continental system against Eng-
land, and thereby have compelled the latter to
make peace. I would also have formed Poland
into a separate and independent kingdom.** I
A TOICS rBOM ST. "^^^^ft Sf
asked what kind of a peaoe be wm^
to us. 'A TOT good one.* nppfiod ViijininiM
^ I woold only h^ve ima^ted npcm ynnr dstooHK
nuing your Tcxat kms at sea.* I ask<d if ht waM
have left us Malta; to whidi be reyfird » cbe
firmative, adding^ that be was tirad of
was as well adaplfd £ar tbe loriBerasibe btter;
that he would have employed iimadf in tbe a»-
proving and adoroing of Fianee^ m tbe
of his SOD, and in writing bis histonr. *Ax
said he, " tbe alfied poweis cannot take £raB
hereafter tbe great public works wbkb I bare
ecuted, the roads which I made oier tbe Alps, and
the seas which I bare united. Tbey cannot pbee
their feet to impfore where mine have not been
before. They cannot take from me tbe code of
laws which I formed, and which will go down to
the latest posterity. Thank God, of these tbey
cannot deprive me.*
I siud that I had been seeking for the number
of ships which had been seized by the Ecglisb
prior to the proclamation issued by him for tbe
detention of the English in France, and could
only discover that two chasse mar^ had been
taken in Quiberon Bay. ^ Two chasse marges ^
said Napoleon, ^ why there was property to the
amount of seventy millions, and I suppose above
two hundred ships detained, before I issued the
proclamation* But it is what England has al*
VOL. n.
58 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
•
ways done. In the war of 1773, you did the
same, and you gave as a reason^ that you had al-
ways done so. The great cause of dispute be-
tween you and us was, that I would not allow
you to do what you liked at sea ; or at least, if so^
that I would act as it pleased me by land. In shOTty
I did not wish to receive laws from you, but ra-
ther to ^ve them. Perhaps in this I pushed mat-
ters too far. Man is liable to err. When you
blockaded France, I blockaded England; and it
was not a paper blockade, as I obliged you to
send your merchandize round by the Baltic, and
occupy a little island in the North Sea, in order
to smuggle. You said that you would shut me
out from the seas, and I said that I would shut
you out from the land. You succeeded; but
had it not been for accidents, you would not
Your country is nothing the better for it, through
the imbecility of your ministers, who have aggran-
dized Russia instead of their native country."*
I asked Napoleon again, as I was anxious to
put the matter beyond a doubt, whether, if Tal-
leyrand had delivered the Duke d*Enghein*s letter
in time to him, he would have pardoned the wri-
ter? He replied, "It is probable that I might;
for in it he made an offer of his services ; besides,
he was the best of the family. He behaved very
bravely and with much dignity before the court-
martial, and denied nothing. It is true that I, as
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 59
well as the natuin, was rerj desirous of making
an example of one of the &mily ; that was against
him ; bat still I think that I would have pardoned
him."
I asked if he would have pardoned Fichegru r
^ Pichegru^** said he, ^ had fallen into great con-
tempt, and was not likely to do me much mischief
In remembrance of the conquest of Holland, it is
possible that I might, on condition of banishment
to America."
^ If," said he, ** Lord Castlereagh were to offer
to place me again upon the throne of France on
the same conditions that Louis fills it, I would
prefer remaining where I am. There is no man
more to be pitied than Louis. He is forced upon
the nation as king, and instead of being allowed
to ingratiate himself with the people, the allies
oblige him to have recourse to measures which
must increase their hatred instead of conciliating
their affections. Royalty is degraded by the steps
they have made him adopt. On la rend si sale et
si m^prisable, that it reflects upon the throne of
England itself. In place of making him respect-
able, on Va convert (TordureJ'
*^The French nation," continued he, ** would
never willingly consent to receive the Bourbons
as kings, because the allies wish it. They would
desire me, because the allies do not ; but putting
me out of the question, the French are desirous to
60 A VOIC£ FROM ST. H£LBNA.
see the throne filled by one chosen by themselyes^
and for whom no enemies or foreign powers had
interfered. Ask yourselves^ you JEtngUshmen,
what your sentiments would be in a similar case r
The wish of your ministers to re-establish despotic
power and superstition in France, cannot be agree-
able to the English. A free people, unless indeed,
a desire to humble and to injure prevails^ cannot
wish to see another nation enslaved. Ill treated
as I have been, and deprived of every thing deari
to me,** added he^ ^^I prefer my sojourn on, this
execrable rock, to the being seated on the throne
of France like Louis, as I know that posterity will
do me justice. Another year or two will proh^
ably finish my career in this world, but what
I have done will never perish. Twelve hundred
years hence my name will be mentionad with
respect, while those of my oppressors will be. uur
known, or only known by being loaded with in-
famy and opprobrium."
^^ I am inclined,** continued Napoleon, ^^ to
doubt very much what has been said of Crom*
well. It has been asserted that he always wore
armour, and continually changed his abode,
through fear of assassination. Now both these
assertions have been made of me, and both I know
to be false, as were most likely those imputing the
same to him.**
<< The conduct of your government in attempting
h v^iGX FROM ST. helbna: 61
to^nli dotimi tibertyj^'and ensli^e the English, sur-
prises m^^' continued Napbleon. > ^Fbr Rnssia,
JhvmjUy «nd Austria to do so^ I wonder not, as
tbeyfdo not merit 6he name of liberal, or of free
B«itions. In then^ the will of the sovereign was
always ktW, the slaves must obey ; but that Eng-
lUfid shotald do soi surpi-ises me; unless, as I
said to you on a former occasion, political mo-
ti?€8, jealousy, and a wish to humble and lessen
those-' who have' enriched themselves by trade,
prevail with your prince, and amongst your olig-
archy,**
h&3r€l;<^^—iA message sent for me to attend the
g^ernor at Plantation House. Found him in
the library with Sir Thomas Reade. His excels
lency said, ^^ that the day before yesterday some
newspapers of a later date than any of his own,
had been received by Mr. Cole the postmaster,
some of which were lent to me in direct violation
of the act of parliament, which positively prohi-
bited communication, verbal or written, with Ge-
neral Bonaparte, or any of his family, or those
about him, without his (the governor's) know-
ledge. That he therefore wished to know from
myself, whether I had lent those papers, or any
others to General Bonaparte?" I replied that I
bad lent tiiose and many others at various times
*I am not pcpsitive that this conversation did not occur on the
S2nd^ as in same pages of my journal it is M dated.
62 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLENA.
to Napoleon, as I had been constantly in the ha*
bit of lending papers to him, since I had been on
the island. That Sir George Cockbum had in
more instances than one, given me newspapers to
take to Longwood before having perused them
himself. Sir Hudson Lowe replied, that it was
a violation of the act of parliament. I replied,
that I was not included in the act of parliament,
as I had made an express stipulation that I should
•
not be considered or treated as one of the French,
and would immediately resign my situation, if I
were required to hold it upon such terms. His ex-
cellency said, that ^^he desired me to understand,
that for the future I was not to lend General Bo-
naparte any newspaper, or be the bearer of any
information — news or newspapers — to him, with*
out having previously obtained his sanction.** I
observed, that I felt it difficult how to act, for if,
after the arrival of a ship. Napoleon asked me if
there were any news ? I could not possibly pre-
tend ignorance. His excellency said, that ^^ as soon
as a ship arrived, both Captain Poppleton and
myself ought to be shut up in Longwood, until
the whole of the information or news brought was
made known to him, and then I could obtain from
him whatever news was proper to be communi-
cated to General Bonaparte.** I replied, that I
would not remain an hour in my situation, subject
to such a restrioUon*
A VOICB FROM ST. U£LENA. 63
His exceUency observed, that *^ some months
ago information of the greatest importance had
been communicated by me to General Bonaparte,
before he^ (the governor,) had himself known it,
viz. that of the dissolution of the chamber of de-
puties in France ; that I had myself told him, that
I had informed General Bonaparte of it, and con-
cluded by asking, if I had communicated this in-
telligence verbally, or by means of a newspaperj
and if the paper had not been lent to me by Sir
Pulteney Malcolm ?**
I replied, that at such a distance of time I
could not recollect whether the communication
made by me had been verbal or by means of a
newspaper ; that most probably it had been both,
and that I did not recollect from whom I had re-
ceived the newspaper. His excellency said, that
" a person possessed as I was of a memoiy so ex-
traordinarily good, could not pretend want of re-
collection," and repeated the question. I answered,
that trifles did not remain long impressed upon
my memory. The governor observed it was sin-
gular I could not recollect that it had been lent
by the admiral, and in a sneering way asked, " if
it was not a Scotch paper?" I answered that I
never had seen a Scotch paper at Longwood.
That Sir Pulteney Malcolm often had selected two
or three papers of the oldest dates for me, and
sent the recent ones to him (Sir Hudson). His
64 A VOICE FROM ST. HELBNA.
excellency then demanded, " if the papers lent by
the admiral had been for myself, or if Sir Palteney
knew that they would be submitted to General Bo-
naparte for perusal.** I replied, ^^ for myself^ and
I do not know whether he is aware of the use I put
them to or not.** Sir Hudson said, that '^ it was
very extraordinary I could not tell if the admiral
knew of it. That by the signature of his Majesty^s
ministers, nobody but himself had any right to
communicate in any manner whatever with General
Bonaparte." I observed that Sir George Cockbum
had never considered it necessary to keep back
newspapers from Napoleon ; that the only instrao-
tions he liad given to me on the subject were, that
it would be better not to show him any thing per-
sonally very offensive. Much further conversa-
tion took place, during which the governor often
recurred to the Scotch paper.
24th. — Found Napoleon in his bed-room^ af-
flicted with headach. Recommended him to use
cold applications to his forehead and temples,
which he immediately put into practice with con-
siderable benefit.
In the course of conversation afterwards, he ob-
served that a great discordancy existed amongst
the libels which had been published at his ex-
pense. Some asserting that his lust had carried
him to the length of having an incestuous correspon-
dence with his sisters, &c. while others maintained
A TOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 65
impuissance equally forcibly. ^^ This Itet report^"*
continued he, *^was so prevalent, that when a
marriage between me and a sister of the Emperor
Alexander was in agitation, the empress her mo-
ther, said to Alexander, that she would not con-
sent to sacrifice her daughter, and throw her into
the arms of one who ne pent rien /aire ; that if
her daughter were married to me they would be
obliged to act as Gustavus had done with his
queen, which she could not reconcile with reli-
gion. Do you know,** added he, "that history
about Gustavus ?** I replied in the negative.
*' Why, Gustave etait impuissanty and not having
an heir to the throne, il ^t coucher un de ses
chamhellans avec la reine, from wtiich sprang that
madman who resigned the crown a few years ago.
In one of his fits of madness, that imbecille since
confessed that the Swedes had acted with justice
in deposing him, as he had no right to the crown.
* My dear mother,' said Alexander, ^ is it possible
that you can believe these stories ? I assure you
that I should not wish you better fortune than to
be sufficiently young to be married to him, and
you would not long want an heir.* Kourakin,**
said he, " told me this anecdote afterwards, which
created great mirth at Paris.**
Napoleon then spoke about Madame de Stael,
^Madame de Stael," said he, "was a woman of
considerable talent and great ambition ; but so
VOL. II. K
66 A VOICE FROM ST. URUiNA*
extremely intriguing and restless^ as to give riw.
to the observation, that she would throw her
friends into the sea, that at the moment of drown-
ing she might have an oportunity of saving thenu
1 was obliged to banish her from court. At Ge^
neva, she became very intimate with my brother
Joseph, whom she gained by her conversation and
writings. When I returned from Elba» she sent
her son to be presented to me, on purpose to ask
payment of two millions which her father Neckar
had lent out of his private property to Louis XVI.
and to offer her services, provided I complied
with this request. As I knew what he wanted^
and thought that I could not grant it without ill-
treating others who were in a similar predicament,
I did not wish to see him, and gave directions
that he should not be introduced. However,
Joseph would not be denied, and brought him in
in spite of this order, the attendants at the door
not liking to refuse my brother, especially as he
said that he would be answerable fbr the conse-
quences. I received him very politely, heard his
business, and replied, that I was very sorry it was
not in my power to comply with his request, as. it
was contrary to the laws, and would do an injus^-
tice to many others. Madame de Stael was not.
however contented with this. She wrote a long
letter to Fouch^ in which she stated her claims,
Aiad that she wanted the money to portion her
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 67
flanghter in marriage to the Due de Broglie,
promising, that if I eomplied with her request, I
might command her and hers ; that she would be
black 4ind white for me. Fouch^ commanicated
this, and advised me strongly to comply, urging,
that in so critical a time, she might be of consi-
derable service, I answered, that I would make
no bargains."*
*^ Shortly after my return from the conquest of
Italy,** continued he, " I was accosted by Madame
de Stael in a large company, although at that time
I avoided going out much in public. She fol-
lowed me every where, and stuck so close that I
could not shake her off. At last she asked me,
* who at this moment is la premiere femme du
monde F intending to pay a compliment to me, and
expecting that I would return it. I looked at
her, and coldly replied, * she who has borne the
greatest number of children,* turned round, and
left her greatly confused and abashed.** He con-
cluded by observing, " that he could not call her
a wicked woman, but that she was a restless
intrigant Cf possessed of considerable talent and
influence.**
He then conversed upon the bad state of Eng-
land, and said that he had made a calculation, and
found that it would require fifty years of an unin<-
terrupted peace to enable En^-land to pay off the
C8 A VaiCE FROM ST. HELENA.
natiQDal debt, a circamstance which had nerer
occurred, and iiever would.
Saw Sir Hudson Lowe at Plantation House,
with vvliom I bad a conversation chiefly upon sub*
jects connected with the admiral. Informed him
that maccheroni formed an item of magnitude in
the expenditure of Longwood, as for the two
pounds of that article, which they consumed daily,
they were obliged to pay twenty-four shillings to
Mr. Solomon. His excellency observed that there
was plenty of it in the government store.*
Cipriani in town making the customary pur-
chases of provisions.
26th, — ^Napoleon indisposed with catarrh, in*
flam mat ion and tumefaction of the right cheek and
gums, with headach, caused probably by expo-
sure yesterday to the cold wind in the garden.
27th, — ^Napoleon better. Right cheek bow-
ever, is still tumefied. Had some conversation
with him about the ambassador. ^'If,** said h^
^' a million of francs had been given to the first,
mandarin, every thing would have been settled,
and it would not have been a reproach to the na*
tion ; as that embassy was not one which regarded
the honour of the country. It was, and ought to
be considered more as an affair of merchandize
* When some was sent up a few days after, it waa fomid to luiv*
been readered unfit for use from long keeping.
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. €9
than as one immediately affecting the nation. It
was in fstet an embassy to China from the tea-mer-
chants in England, and therefore advantages might
with great honour be purchased. Besides, when
you send ambassadors to those barbarians, you
must humour them and comply with their cus-
toms. They do not seek you. They never have
sent ambassadors in return for yours, nor asked
you to send any. Now great commercial advan-
tages may be lost to England, and perhaps a war
with China be the consequence. If I were an
Englishman, I should esteem the man who ad-
vised a war with China to be the greatest enemy
to my country in existence. You would in the
end be beaten, and perhaps a revolution in India
would follow.*
" In the course of a few years,** added he,
'* Russia will have Constantinople, the greatest
part of Turkey, and all Greece. This I hold to
be as certain as if it had already taken place. Al-
most all the cajoling and flattering which Alexan-
der practised towards me was to gain my consent
to eflect this object. I would not consent, fore-
seeing that the equilibrium of Europe would be
destroyed. In the natural course of things, in a
few years Turkey must fall to Russia. The
greatest part of her population are Greeks, who
you may say are Russians The powers Tt would
injure, and who could oppose it, are England^
70 A VOICE FROM 8T. RBLSlfA.
France, Prussia, and Austria. Now as to Aus-
tria, it will be very easy for Russia to engage her
assistance by giving ber Servia, and other pro-
vinces bordering upon the Austrian dominioiis,
reaching near to Constantinople. The only hy-
pothesis that France and England may ever be
allied with sincerity will be in order to prevent
this. But even this alliance would not avaiL
France, England, and Prussia united cannot pre-
vent it. Russia and Austria can at any time effec*t
it. Once mistress of Constantinopk, Russia gets
all the commerce of the Mediterranean, becomes
a great naval power, and God knows what may
happen. She quarrels with you, marches off to
India an army of seventy-thousand good soldiers^
which to Russia is nothing, and a hundred thou-
sand canaille, Cossacs and others^ and England
loses India. Above all the other powers, Russia
is the most to be feared, especially by you. Her
soldiers are braver than the Austrians, and she has
the means of raising as many as she pleases. In
bravery, the French and English soldiers are the
only ones to be compared to them. All this I
foresaw. I see into futurity farther than others,
and I wanted to establish a barrier against those
barbarians by re-establishing the kingdom of Po-
land, and putting Poniatowski at the head of it as
king ; but your imbecilles of ministers would not
consent. A hundred years hence> I shall be praised
A TOrCE FROM ST. HELENA. 71
fencensd), and Europe, especially England, will la-
ment that I did not succeed. When they see the
finest countries in Europe overrun and a prey to
those northern barbarians, they will say, ' Napo-
leon was right.* The Russians are beginning,' al-
ready with you ; I see that they have prohibited
the introduction of your merchandize. England
is fidling. Even Prussia prohibits your goods.
What a change for England ! Under the gi-eat
Chatham, you forbade the most powerful sove-
reign in Europe, the Emperor of Germany, to
nftvigate the Escaut, or to establish an extensive
commerce at Ostend ; this was barbarous and
mijust, but still you had the power to prevent it
because it was against the interests of England.
Now Prussia shuts her ports against you. What
a falling off! In my opinion the only thing which
can save England will be abstaining from med-
dling in continental affairs, and by withdrawing
her army from the continent. Then you may in-
sist upon whatever is necessary to your interests,
without fear of reprisals being made upon your
army. You are superior in maritime force to all
the world united ; and while you confine yourselt
to that arm, you will always be powerful and be
dreaded. You have the great advantage of de-
claring war when you like, and of carrying it on
at a distance from your home. By means of your
fleets you can menace an attack upon the coasts
72 A VOICK FROM 8T. HSLSlfA.
of those powers who disagree with you^ and inter-
loipt their commerce without their being able ma-
terially to retaliate. By yoar present mode of
proceeding, you forfeit all those advantages. Year
most powerful arm is given up, and yon send an
army to the continent, where you are inferior to
Bavaria in that species of force. You put me in
mind of Francis the First, who had a formidable
and beautiful artillery at the battle of P^via. Bat
he placed his cavalry before it, and thus masked
the battery which, could it have fired, would have
insured him the victory. He was beaten, lost
every thing, and made prisoner. So it is with
you. You forsake your ships, which may be
compared to Francis's batteries, and throw forty
thousand men on the continent, which Prussia, or
any other power who chooses to prohibit your
manufactures, will fall upon and cut to pieces, if
you menace or make reprisals.
" So silly a treaty as that made by your minis-
ters for their own country," continued the empe-
ror was never known before. You give up
every thing, and gain nothing. All the other
powers gained acquisitions of country and mil«
lions of hiouls, but you give up colonies. For ex-
ample, you give up the isle of Bourbon to the
French. A more impolitic act you could not
have committed. You ought to endeavour to
make the French forget the way to India, and all
.A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 73
Indian policy, instead of placing them Iifilf way
tbere. Why did you give up Java ? Why Suri-
nam, or Martinique, or the other French colo-
nies ? To avoid doing so you had nothing more
to say than that you would retain them for the five
years the allied powers were to remain in France.
Why not demand Hamburg for Hanover. Then
you would have an entrepdi for your manufactures.
In treaties, an ambassador ought to take advantage
of tvery thing for the benefit of his own country."
Napoleon then said, that if I were asked any
questions by the ambassador about a reception at
Longwood, I should say, that he (Napoleon) was
not on good terms with the governor, and could
not think of receiving him with that person. That
If he were desirous of being introduced, he would
receive him presented by Count Bertrand or by
the admiral. "I have no doubt," added he, "that
this governor will tell him that I am very much
dissatisfied with him for doing his duty, and that
I am sulky. That having myself been so long
used to conmiand, I have not philosophy enough
to bear restraint. That I have been treated very
well, and have made a very bad return for it. If
the ambassador asks you, you may say that I
have my own way of receiving persons who wish
to be introduced to irie. That I do not wish to
affront him, far from it, but that I cannot see the
governor."
VOL. II. L
74 A VOICE FROM 8T. HELENA.
28th. — ^A servant, named William Hall, dis*
missed from Longwood. After leaving it, he nil-
derwent a long interrogation at Plantation House
by the governor relative to what he had seen and
heard during his residence at Long^ood.
The Ocean, Experiment, and another ship, ar-
rived from England yesterday.
Saw Sir Hudson Lowe, who told me with
some embarrassment, that ^^ his conduct had uii«
dergoue a parliamentary investigation, and that I
should see in the newspapers an account of a mo-
tion relative to General Bonaparte, that had been
made by Loixl Holland in the House of Lords,
but that he had not as yet received any official ac-
count of it from Lord Bathurst. That the reports
of his lordsiiip's reply, as given in the newspapers,
might be incorrect or unfaithful, which I had bet-
ter say, if General Bonaparte asked me any ques-
tions."
30th. — Napoleon sent for me to his bed-room to
explain several passages in the Times newspaper^
particularly in the speech imputed to Lord Ba-
thurst in reply to Lord Holland's motion for the
production of papers relative to him. Having
read those parts, which stated that every change
which had taken place in the situation of the
complainant had been for his own benefit ; that the
reason for lessening his limits bad been his tarn*
pering with soldiei-s or inhabitants ; that he had
OBly ffcitteiVed cmerfettelrt; tboLt ithe conununication
with oSaenrBnA inhabitants was unrestricted and
free; that peit^le faad:^gone to Longwood in dis*
gnis^ &c. &c. r^^Je suis Htm alse^ said Napoleon,
^^de voir que le mxaistre Anglais ajwstifU sa conduite
atroce envers nun au parlementy d sa nation et &
r Europe avec des mensonges; tristeressourcey qui ne
dute pas long temps.. U regno di buj^e non durer^
per seropre/** continued he. I felt greatly ashamed^
and ready to sink into the earth, atid stammered
out the excuse that had been suggested to me by
Sir Hudson Lowe. " It is even worse,** said he>
" in the Morning Chronicle. In the Times, it ap*.
peared as if prepared for publication in a minister
rial office ; but in the Chronicle, it looks as if
coming from his own moutli. I have ordered
Bertrand,** added he, ^^ to make a ffiithful transla-
tion of it, and to consult you about any phrase or
delicacy of language ; of the sense of which he may
be doubtful. Lord Bathurst,** continued he, ''has
shewn great indelicacy in having shewn or told
to Montchenu in London, the contents of a let*
ter written by Gourgaud to his mother, which the
old blockhead repeated to all the world here. He
asserts that I only received one letter, that from
my brother Joseph, which is false. He ought to
act like a confessor, to hear every thing, and
^ Hm vt%a of liM will not latl for trcKi
76 A VOICB FROM ST. HBIiDlAw
divulge nothing ; but it is of a piece with the rest
of his outrageous conduct. He wants to debase
and to lower me. There are some of his pleasan-
tries that I do not well comprehend. I shall^
however^ soon be able to give him a proper an-
swer. If the governor questions you, tell him
what I have said.**
Napoleon then observed it was strange that a
sovereign, who by the Grace of God, was born
lord and master of so many millions, could not
receive a sealed letter. " How," said he, ^ can
complaints be made to the sovereign of a corrupt
or vile minister if such be ttie rule. In time of
Mrar, if a minister betrays and sells his country,
how can it be known to the king, if the complaint
must go through the bands of the persons com-
plained of ? At whose option it will be either to
varnish and colour it over as best suits his views,
or suppress it altogether.**
^ Santini,** continued he, ^ has published a
brochure fiill of trash. There are some truths in
it, but every thing is exaggerated. There was al-
Mrays enough to exist upon, but not enough for a
good table.**
31^/. — Gave Napoleon a translation I had made
by his desire, of a letter which appeared in
the Courier newspaper. After reading it, he ex-
pressed his opinion that it had been written by
A VOICK FROM ST. HBLSNA. 77
the governor himself^ and that the seeming incor«
rectness of one part was only to mask the real
author.
He then spoke at length about the state of
England, observed, that it was necessary not to
yield too much to the people, or to allow them to
think that it was conceded through fear. That
perhaps the suspension of the habeas corpus act
might, for a short time, be a proper step, as well
as an army kept up to intimidate the canaille.
" But," said he, " I consider these to be only topi-
cal applications, which if used without general re-
medies, that should act upon the constitutional
disease, might prove repellent and dangerous, by
driving the complaint to nobler parts. England
may be likened unto a patient requiring to have
his system changed by a course of mercury. The
only radical remedy is that which will affect the
constitution, that is to say, relieve the misery
which exists. This can only be effected by pro-
curing a vent for your manufactures, and by reduc-
tion of expenditure, ministers setting the example
themselves, by giving up the sinecures, &c. This
would contribute essentially to calm the public
agitation. Had the ministers come forward like
men, at the opening of the session of parliament, and
thrown up their sinecures, this, with the example
set by the Prince Regent, would have quieted all
tomults and complaints. The people, in expecta-
78 A TOIOB FROM 8T. RBIANA.
tion of experiencing something radicaUy beneficial
from so good a beginning, wonld have united^ and
time would have been gained to adopt measures
to relieve the general distress. An exclnsive com-
mercial treaty for twenty years with the Brazils
and Spanish South America might still be de-
manded with success. Or assist the colonies in
rendering themselves independent, and you will
have all their commerce. A war with Spain, if
she refused to agree to your demands, would divert
the attention of the public, employ soldiers and
smlors, and a great portion of manufacturers.
— ^Ail your miseries I maintain to be owing to
the imbecility and ignorance of Lord Castle-
reagh, and his inattention to the real prosperity
of his own country. Had Lords Grenville or
Wellesley been ambassadors, I am convinced that
the interests of England would have been con-
sulted. What would those Englishmen, who
lived one hundred years ago, say, if they could
rise from their graves, be informed of your glo-
rious successes, cast their eyes upon England,
witness her distress, and be informed, that in the
treaty of peace not a single article for the benefit
of England had been stipulated ! that, on the con-
trary, you had given up conquests and commer-
cial rights necessary to your existence. When
Austria erained ten millions of inhabitants, Russia
eight, Prussia ten, Holland, Bavaria, Sardinia,
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. ^9
and every other power, obtained an increase of
territory, why not England ? who was the main
organ of all the snecess. Instead of establishing
a number of independent maritime states, such as
Hamburg, Stralsund, Dantzic, Grenoa, to serve
as entrepAts for your manufactures, with condi-
tions, either secret or otherwise, favourable to
your commerce, you have basely given up Genoa
to the King of Sardinia, and united Belgium to
Holland. You have rendered yourselves hated
by the Italians and Belgians, and have done ir-
reparable injury to your trade. For, although
it is a great point for you, that Belgium should be
separated from France, it is a serious disadvan-
tage to you that she should be united to Hol-
land. Holland has no manufactories, and conse-
quently would have become a depdt for yours,
from whence a prodigious influx would be kept
up in the continent. Now, however, that Bel-
gium has been made a part of Holland ; this last
will naturally prefer taking the manufactures of
her own subjects to those of a stranger, and all
Belgium may be called a manufacturing town. In-
dependent of this, in case of any future war with
France, Holland must join the latter through fear
of losing the provinces of Belgium. People al-
ways consider the danger that is most imminent.
They will reason thus : * If we declare against
France, we lose, directly, Belgium and our manu-
80 A. VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
factures ; if against England, what can she do ?
Blockade our ports, and effect disembarkations.
We shall still have the commerce of the continent,
and shall have time enough to prepare ourselves.
We must, therefore, declare for France.' It would
have been much better that you should have given
it to Austria, or why not have made it an indepen-
dent country, and placed an English prince as so-
vereign ? Now let us see the state you are actually
in. You are nearly as effectually shut out from the
continent, as when I reigned and promulgated the
continental system. I ask you what peace dic-
tated by me, supposing that I had been victorious,
could have been worse in its effects for England,
than the one made by Lord Castlereagh, when
she was triumphant. The hatred which your
ministers bear to me, has precipitated them into
an abyss. You recollect I told you some time
ago, that I thought it bad policy to leave the
English troops in France, and make Lord Wel-
lington commander-in-chief. You now see the
effect of it. Prussia denies entrance to your mer-
chandize. What can you do ? You can neither
attempt to intimidate, nor proceed to extremities,
as Prussia could fall upon Lord Wellington and
his forty thousand men. "While you retain your
troops on the continent, you will never be inde-
pendent. Had you, after the grand blow was
given, when I was disposed of, withdrawn your
A VOICE FROM ST. HfiLBNA. 81
troops from the continent, you would have been
independent; yon would not have drawn down
the hatred and jealousy of the continental powers,
especially at .seeing Lord Wellington commander-
in-chie^ and they never would have dared to shut
their ports against yon. You could then have
sent your ships, blockaded their ports, and have
declared, ' if you do not permit my merchandize
to enter, no other shall either go in or come out.*
Tliey would soon have listened to reason. — Now^
your hands are tied ; your meddling in continental
aSsurs, and trying to make yourselves a great
military power, instead of attending to the sea
and commerce, will yet be your ruin as a naticm.
^You were greatly offended with me for having
called you a nation of shopkeepers. Had I meant
by this that you were a nation of cowards, you
would have had reason to be displeased ; even
though it were ridiculous and contrary to histori-
cal facts; but no such thing was ever intended.
I meant Chat you were a nation of merchants, and
that all your great riches, and your grand re-
sources arose from commerce, which is true.
What else constitutes the riches of England ? It
is not extent of territory, or a numerous popula-
tion. It is not mines of gold, silver, or diamonds.
Moreover no man of sense ought to be ashamed
of being called a shopkeeper. But your prince
and your ministers appear to wish to change at
VOL. n. M
g2 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
together r esprit of the English^ and to render yon
another nation ; to make yoa ashamed of your
shops and your trade which have made you what
you are, and to sigh after nobility, titles, and
crosses ; in fact to assimilate you with the French.
What other object can there be in all those cor*
dons, crosses, and honours, which are so profusely
showered. You are all nobility now, instead of
the plain old Englishmen. You are ashamed of
yourselves, and want to be a nation of nobility and
gentlemen* Nothing is to be seen or beard of
now in England, but ' Sir John,* and ^ my lady/
All those things did very well with me in France
because they were conformable to the spirit of the
nation ; but believe me it is contrary both to the
spirit and the interest of England. Stick to your
ships, your commerce, and counting-houses, and
leave cordons, crosses, and cavalry uniforms to
the continent, and you will prosper. Lord Castle*
reagh himself was ashamed of your being called
a nation of merchants, and frequently s^d in
France, that it was a mistaken idea to suppose
that England depended upon commerce, or was
indebted to it for her riches ; and added that it
was not by any means necessaiy to her How i
laughed when I heard of this false pride. He be«
t rayed his country at the peace. I do not mean
* This he said in English, u well at the words maiked with com*
inasy which follow.
A VOICB FROM 8T. HELBNA. 83
to say,** continued he, laying his hand over his
heart, ^ that he did it from here, but he betrayed
it by neglecting its interests. ^ He was in fact the
commis of the allied sovereigns. Perhaps he wanted
to convince them that you were not a nation of
merchants, by shewing clearly that you would
not make any advantageous bargain for your-
selves by magnanimously giving up every things
that nations might cry, ' Oh ! how nobly England
has behaved V Had he attended to the interestsr
of his own country, had he stipulated for commer-
cial treaties, for the independence of some maii*
time states and towns, for certain advantages to
be secured to England, to indemnify her for the
waste of blood, and the enormous sacrifices she
had made, why then they might have said, ^ What
a mercenary people, they are truly a nation of
merchants ; see what bargains they want to make ;
and Lord Castlereagh would not have been so
well received in the drawing-rooms F
'^ Talent he may have displayed in some in-
stances,** continued the emperor, '* and great per-
tinacity in accomplishing my downfal ; but as to
knowledge of, or attention to, the interests of liis
own country, he has manifested neither the one
nor the other. Probably for a thousand years,
such another opportunity of aggrandizing Eng-
land will not occur. In the position of affairs,
nothing could have been refused to you. But
8i A TOICB FROM ST. HELE^'^A,
now after such romantic and unparalleled suc^
cesses ; after having been favoured by God and by
accidents^ in the manner you have been ; after ef-
fecting impossibilities^ I may say— effecting what
the most sanguine mind could never have enter*
tained the most distant idea of, what has England
gained ? — the cordons of the allied sovereigns for
Lord Castlereagh T
''When/* continued Napoleon,* **a nation has
been favoured so much as yours has been, and
that misery exists in that nation, it must be owing
to the imbecility of the ministers. The transition
fi-om war to peace cannot explain it* It is of too
long a continuance. Had I been the English mi-
nister, or had the minister been possessed of com-
mon sense, and not blinded by vanity, or one who
would not have allowed himself to be duped by
the attentions of kings and emperors; you would
have been rich, the seas covered with your ships,
and your manufacturers would have been wealthy
and flourishing. Lord Castlereagh will be an
object of reprehension for the natiim and for pos-
terity.**
I told Napoleon that in one of the Couriers
sent him by the governor, I had observed a speech
attributed to Sir Francis Burdett, accusing him
of having established eight hastiles in France.
* This oonvenation wm commitnicatod bj bm iB I81T, to ^rjal
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 85
Mapc^eon replied, **In some respects it is true.
I established a few prisons, but they were for cer-
tain persons who were under sentence of death ;
as I did not like to have the * capital punishment
executed, and could not send them to a Botany
Bay, as you were masters of the sea and would
have released them, I was obliged to keep them
in prisons.^
^ There were,^ continued he, "some Vendean
chiefs, Chouans, and others, who had been arrested
for rebeUion and other crimes, to whom the choice
was given, either to be tried, or to remain in prison
as long as the government might think it neces-
sary for the safety of the state. Those gaols were
inspected twice a year by a committee composed
of a councillor of state, and two judges ; who each
time offered the prisoners the choice of continuing
in prison as they were, or of being brought to
trial ; but they always preferred the former. They
were allowed three francs a day for their sub-
sistence. No abuses,** continued he, ^ were known
to be committed in the prisons ; and in fact, in-
stead of being a crime as imputed to me in that
paper, it was a mercy. But,** added he, ^' where
is the eountry without gaols ; are there not some
in England ?**
June 2nd. — An orderly dragoon brought a let-
ter, directing me to proceed immediately to Plan-
tation House. Found his excellency in the library,
who asked what wei*e Gen. BjOhnaparte*s reaiarlii
(Q A VOICK FROM 8T. HELENA.
upou the discussions in parliament. I repeated
Napoleon s expressions (as I had been desired ^to
ilo). When I mentioned the remarks be bad made
upon the assertion imputed to Lord Bathnrs^
that every change which bad taken place had
been for the benefit of the complainwt, also hto
observations on the indelicacy of disclosing the
contents of letters^ Sir Hudson Lowe took up a
number of the Times newspaper^ and with a eoan-
tenance in which embarrassment was visible, ob*
served, ^^ that Lord Bathurst was right in having
asserted, that wliatever alterations had been madc^
had been for the better, because his lordship must
have alluded to the different manner in which let<>
ters were now sent to Longwood ; for instead of
passing through the hands of inferior officers as
before, they were now only seen and read by him-
self (the governor)."
Some conversation then took place relative to
the quantity of provisions allowed to Longwood.
Sir Hudson Lowe maintained that the quantities
bad been fixed by Count Montholon, and that he
(Sir Hudson) had never heard any complaints
made of a deficiency. I explained to his excel*
lency, that Count Montholon had not fixed the
quantities, and also called to his recollection that
the scantiness of the allowance had been frequent-
ly reported to him by the orderly officer, by the
purveyor, by myself, and also by the noaitre
dli6teL Sir Hudson Lowe persisted that the
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 87
qaantities had been specified by Count Montho
Ion, and sent for Major Gorrequer to prove the
correctness of his assertion. Major Gorrequer
however^ did not support his excellency ; as he de-
clared that the quantity of the wine only had been
fixed by the count, and that of the remaining
articles by a scale framed by orders of his excel-
lency himself. Notwithstanding a little confusion
produced by this, Sir Hudson Lowe persisted in
asserting that he was ignorant of the insufficiency
of the allowance of provisions ; upon which I
thought it necessary to enumerate the days on
which representations to that effect had been made
to him by myself, by Mr. Balcombe, and by the
maltre d*h6tel ; and also observed, that the assist-
ance rendered by Sir Thomas Reade twice a week
in procuring divers articles of eatables for Long-
wood, for which payment had been frequently
made in his presence by Cipriani, could not have
left Sir Thomas in ignorance respecting the wants
of the French. The governor sneeringly observed,
^ it appeared that I should be the best witness
those people could call.**
4th. — ^An increase of twenty-eight pounds daily
in the meat furnished by government to Longwood,
ordered by Sir Hudson Lowe.
Independent of the usual guard, an officer has
been stationed at Hut's Gate since the arrival of
the ships from England, with orders to inspect
88 A VOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA.
minutely every one approaching Longwood^ and
to allow " no suspicious persons** to pass.
bth. — Count and Countess Montholon went to
town shopping, and to pay a visit to Admiral and
Lady Malcolm.- The officer who accompanied
them was ordered by the governor to ** follow them
into the admiraFs, and to pay attention to their
conversation.**
6M. — Saw Napoleon, who was in very good
spirits. Told me that Count Montholon had been
informed yesterday that a person who had seen
the Grand Lama had just arrived in the island;
he therefore desired, that as soon as I went to
town, I should endeavour to get acquainted with
him, and inquire what ceremonies had been made
use of; whether adoration was practised, and in*
form myself of every possible particular. " I am.**
said he, 'Wery curious to get some information
about this Grand Lama. I have never read any
accounts about him that I could rely upon, and
sometimes have doubted of his existence.**
Saw Sir Hudson Lowe in town^ with whom I
had some conversation relative to Napoleon*s ob-
servations on Lord Bathurst*s speech. His excel-
lency gave me a message to be delivered to him in
reply. Mentioned to him that Napoleon had also
remarked, when speaking of Lord B., ^^ QmosI
tutti li ministri son bugiardi, Talleyrand tie il
caporale, poi viene Castlereagh, poi Mettemich,
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 89
ffardenbergn* &c.** Informed him also that Napo-
leon had desired me to endeavour to make myself
acquainted with a gentleman lately arrived, who,
it was reported, had seen the Grand Lama. Sir
Hudson appeared not to know that such a person
was in the island.
Shortly afterwards I met Capt. Balston, of the
Hon. Company*s sea service, who reminded me of
our former acquaintance. By him I was informed
that a gentleman had arrived from China, with a
letter of introduction to me from Mr. Urmston, of
Macao, with whom I had been on terms of inti-
macy. On seeing the gentleman afterwards. I
found that his name was Manning, and that he was
the person of whom I was in search. He wore a
long black beard, and had travelled through the
kingdom of Thibet as far as the frontiers of China.
I told him that the emperor had expressed great
curiosity about the Grand Lama, and that if he
came up to Longwood, there was every probabi-
lity that he would see him. Mr. Manning related
that he had been a prisoner in France, and had
been released by Napoleon, and furnished with a
passport, as soon as the emperor had learned that
he was a person travelling for information, which
might ultimately benefit society ; that as a mark
of his gratitude for this favour, he had sent some
little presents to the governor for him, with a re-
* Ahnoft all ministon are liars. Talleyrand is their oorporal| next
eome Caitlereagfa^ Mettemicli^ Hardonberg.
VOL. II. N
90 ▲ VOICB FROM ST. HELENA.
quest that they might be forwarded, and that he
would ask a pass for the purpose of endeavouring
to see him.
A report current in town, that a marlde bast of
young Napoleon was brought out in the Baring*,
and that Sir Thomas Reade had recommended the
captain of the vessel to throw it overboard and say
nothing about it. This was asserted as a positive
fact to Cipriani and to me by Capt. • *, who said
that the captain of the Baring had confessed that
insinuations to that effect had been made to him.
1th. — ^Mr. Manning, accompanied by Captain
Balston, came up to Count Bert rand's. The for-
mer told me that he had been directed by the go-
vernor, for what reason he could not divine, not
to communicate to the Count that he had sent a
few presents to him for Napoleon. After they
had been about an hour at Count Bertrand*s, Na-
poleon, came in accompanied by General Mon-
tholon. He accosted Captain Balston first, and
observed, ** Oh, I have seen you here before.** He
then asked Mr. Manning some questions. Man-
ning related that he had been in France in 1805,
(I think), and was one of the persons who had been
detained ; that he had written a letter to him
(Napoleon), stating that he was travelling for the
benefit of the world at large, which had procured
his release. "What protection had you?** asked
Napoleon. " Had you a letter from Sir Joseph
Banks to me ?** Manning replied that he had no
A TOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA. 91
protectioa whatever^ nor letter from Sir Joseph
Banks, nor had he any friends to interest them
selves in his behalf ; that he had merely written a
letter to him stating his situation. ** Was it your
sioiple letter which obtained your liberty ?** asked
Napolecm. ^It was my simple letter,** replied
Maiming^ ^ that induced you to grant it to me, for
which I am very grateful, and beg to thank you.**
Napoleon asked him where he had lived, &c., and
locked at the map of the countries in the atlas of
Las Cases, asking a variety of questions about
the route he had taken ; whether he had seen the
Grand Lama ; the manners, customs, &c. of the
countries be had passed through.
Manning gave a clear and concise reply to
every question, said that he had seen the Lama,
whom he described to be an intelligent boy of
seven years old, and had performed the same cere-
monies in his presence as were done by others
who were admitted to it. Napoleon said, " how
did you escape being taken up as a spy r" " I
hope," replied Manning, " that there is nothing in
my countenance which would indicate my being
a spy;** at which Napoleon laughed, and said,
" How came it to pass, that you being profane^
according to their ideas, could gain admission to
the presence of the Lama ?" Mr. Manning an*
swered that he honoured and paid respect to all
religions, and thereby gained admission. Napo-
92 A VOICE FROM ST. HKLBNA.
leon desired to know if he had passed for an Eng^
lishman^ and observed that the shape of his nose
would indicate his being an European? Hie
other replied that he had passed for a native of
Calcutta, but he believed it was known that he
was an Englishmen ; that there were some races
of men there who had a similar formation of nose,
Napi)leon then observed with a smile, that, ^^ JIfei*
sieurs les voyageurs frequently told contes^ and
that the existence of the Grand Lama had been
denied by several.** Manning answered, " Je ne
suis pas du nambre de ces voyageurs Id ; that truth
was not falsehood,** at which Napoleon laughed,
and asked many other questions. Manning re-
lated, that the chief part of the revenues of the
Grand Lama arose from presents made to him by
the princes and others who believed in him ; that
temporally, however, he was subject to the Chi-
nese ; that he never married, neither did his priests ;
that the body into which, according to their be-
lief, the spirit passed, was discovered by signs
known only to the priests. Napoleon then asked
several questions about the Chinese language, the
late embassy, if the Russians had ever penetrated
in that direction, and whether he intended to pub-
lish un account of his travels ; after which he
asked Balston some questions about his ship,
\v >hed them a good morning, and departed.
ivave Napoleon a copy of Santiufs pamphlet
A'VOlCfi PHOM 81*. HELENA. 93
\a French, which he read, observing as he went
through it, according as the passages seemed to
deserve it, •* true," ** partly true,** " false,- " stuflF,**
&a
He observed that they had spelled his name
with an u (Buonaparte), and told me that when
be first commanded the army of Italy, he had
used the u in order to please 4he Italians ; that,
however, either the one or the other was equally
proper ; that after his return from Egypt he had
dropped it ; that in fact the chiefs of the family
and those who had been highest, had spelled their
names with the u, adding, '^ that a mighty affair
had been made of so trifling a matter.** He con*
eluded by remarking, that '^ Santini would have
done better to have confined himself strictly to
the truth, which would have had a much stronger
effect on the public mind than the exaggerations
he had promulgated, which indeed appeared to
have been framed by some person in England,
as Santini was incapable of writing a pamphlet
himself."
8th. — Mr. Cole (of the firm of Balcombe and
Co., the purveyors,) came up to Longwood by
order of Major Gorrequer, to acquaint General
Montholon that the liveries of the servants must
be changed from green to blue, and the quantity
of gold lace upon the coats diminished.
For some time back complaints have been made
94 A VQICH FROM 8T. HBhEHA.
by the maltre dli6tel of the badness of the mutton^
of the fowls, the indifferent quality and want of
variety of the vegetables, &c. Mr. Cede informed
tne that it was not their fault, as, by order of Sir
Hudson Lowe, the purveyor was obliged to take
the sheq> from the compan/s stock-yard. Thai
this day permission had been received to purchaw
from the fiEurmers,* restricting them however to a
certain price ; that the vegetables furnished were
received from the garden of the governor.
9tJL — ^An official complaint made in writing by
Captain Poppleton to Major Gorrequer of the
badness of the above-mentioned articles ; also that
Mr. Cole said that the vegetables were furnished
from Plantation House garden.
lOM. — ^Napoleon in his bed^room. Told him
that I had received a Portsmouth paper, in which
were contained extracts from a work published
in London under his name. He looked over it^
and observed that he had not written a line of i^
though some parts resembled his manner. He
added that there was a Scotchman, whose name
he did not recollect, who had written several ar-
ticles so much in his style, that when in France
he had caused some of his works to be translated
into French.
I informed him that Colonel Macirone, aid-de*
camp to Murat, had published some anecdotes of
his late master. ^^ What does he say of me T
A TOICB FBQM ST. HELK^A, 85
said Napokon. I replied, duit I kid not
the bocA, bat bad been infonned br Su- Thonuis
Readethat be spoke iU of bim. '"Ob," said be,
lang^faiiig, ^ tbat IS notbin^ ; I am wdl acowtoicd
to it; But wbat docs be say?* I ansirend, it
was asserted tbat Marat bad impvted tbe kiss of
tbe battle ^ Waterloo to tbe caTaliy molt bavin^
been property employed, and bad said, tbat if be
(Murat) bad commaiided tbem, tbe Freacb woold
bave gained tbe victory. ^ It is Teiy probable,*
replied Napokon, ^ I coold not be every irbere;
and Murat was tbe best ca^-alry <^ioer in tbe
worlds He wookt bave ^ven more impetaosity
to tbe charg^e. There wanted but very little, I
assure you, to gain tbe day for me. Enfoncer
deux €u trots hmtailUms^ and in all probability
Murat would have eflEected thaL There were not I
believe two such officers in the world as Murat for
the cavalry, and Drouot for the artillery. / Murat
was a most singular character. Four and twenty
years ago when he was a captain, I made him my
aid-de-camp, and subsequently raised him to be
what he was. He loved, I may rather say, adored
me. In my presence he was as it were struck
with awe, and ready to fall at my feet. I acted
wrong in having separated him from me, as with*
out me, he was nothing. With me, he was my
right arm. Order Murat to attack and destroy
four or five thousand men in such a direction, it
96 A VOICB FROM ST. HELBNA.
was done in a moment ; but leave him to himself
he was an imbecille without judgment I cannot
conceive how so brave a man could be so Idchcm
He was no where brave unless before the enemy.
There he was probably the bravest man in the
world. His boiling courage carried him into the
midst of the enemy, convert de pennts juaqiiam
clocher, and glittering with gold. How he escaped
is a miracle, being as he was, always a distin*
giiished mark, and fired at by every body. Even
the Cossacs admired him on account of his extra-
ordinary bravery. Every day Murat was engaged
in single combat with some of them, and never re-
turned without his sabre dropping with the blood
of those whom he had slain. He was a paladine,
in fact a Don Quixote in the field ; but take him
into the cabinet, he was a poltroon without judg-
ment or decision. Murat and Ney were the bravest
men I ever witnessed. Murat, however, was a
much nobler character than Ney. Murat was
generous and open ; Ney partook of the canaille.
Strange to say, however, Murat, although he loved
me, did me more mischief than any other person
in the world. When I left Elba, I sent a messen-
ger to acquaint him with what I had done. Im-
mediately he must attack the Austrians. The
messenger went upon his knees to prevent him;
but in vain. He thought me already master of
France, Belgium, and Holland^ and that he must
FROM 8T. HBLBNA. 97
make his peace, and not adhe*^ to aemi-mesurex
lake a in^man« be attacked the Anstrians with
bis canailie^ and rained me. For at that time
there was a negociaticm going on between Austria
and me, stipulating that the former should remain
neuter, which would have been finally concluded,
and I should have reigned undisturbed. But as
soon as Murat attacked the Austrians, the em-
percM* immediately conceived that he was acting
by my directions, and indeed it wiU be difficult
to make posterity believe to the contrary. Met-
ternich said, * Oh, the £mperor Napoleon is the
same as ever. A man of iron. The trip to Elba
has not changed him. Nothing will ever alter
him : all or nothing for him. Austria joined the
coalition, and I was lost. Murat was unconscious
that my conduct was regulated by circumstances
and adapted to them. He was like a man gazing
at the scenes shifting at the opera, without ever
thinking of the machinery behind, by which the
whole is moved. He never however thought that
his secession in the first instance would have been
so injurious to me, or he would not have joined
the allies. He concluded that I should be obliged
to give up Italy and some other countries, but
never contenltplAted my total ruin.
Sir Hudson Lowe at Longwood. Went to
Count Bertrands. where he remained for some
time. In the evening Napoieon sent for me, and
VOL. n. o
98 A VOICE FROM ST. HELBNA.
said that Sir Hudson Lowe had been to Bertrand
to inform him that Lady Holland had sent oat
some presents for Madame Bertrand's childreOf
two books for himself, and some other articles,
with a letter ; that although it was contrary to the
regulations, which prescribed that every thing
should come through the secretary of state*s office|-
he would take it upon himself to send tbein.
That Mr. Manning had also left some trifling pre-
sents for him (Napoleon), which be wished to
know if he would accept. That there was also
another circumstance still more embarrassing, viz.
that a sculptor at Leghorn had made a bad bust
of young Napoleon, and which he had forwarded
to St. Helena by the Baring, in charge of a man
now very ill with a fever, with a letter, stating
that the artist had been already satisfied, but that
if he (Napoleon) wished to pay any more, one hun-
dred guineas was the price, which he conceived to
be a large sum of money for a badly executed
bust. That he wished to be informed if Napo-
leon would desire to have it. " Bertrand," con-
tinued Napoleon " replied, that doubtless the
emperor would wish to see the statue of his son.
He regretted it had not been forwarded at an earlier
period. That it would be better to send it that
very evening than detain it until to-morrow, and
that the emperor would be hapov to receive Mr.
Manning's presents. Bertrand says, that be looked '
•■-■
A VOf€B FHOM ST. HELfiNA. 99
disturbed, and appeared to attribute great merit to
himself for having offered to send up those things^
because they had not passed through the hands of
the secretary of state, and surprised that Bertrand
was not abounding in thanks to him for his great
goodness. I do not know what he meant by say-
ing that a hundred guineas was too much for the
statue^ or if he intended it as an insult, or as a
reflection upon us. Surely no sum could be too
much for ?k father to pay under similar circum-
stances, But this man has no feeling.**
^Napoleon then asked me if I knew any thing
about the statue ? I replied, that I had heard of
it some days before. " Why did you not tell me r**
asked the emperor. I felt a little confused, and
answered^ that I expected the governor would
have sent it up. Napoleon said, " I have known
of it for several days, i I intended, if it had not
been given, to have made such a complaint as
would have caused every Englishman's hair to
stand on end with horror {alzare i capelli). I would
have told a tale which would have made the
mothers of England execrate him as a monster
in human shape. I have been informed that he
has been deliberating about it, and also that his
prime minister Reade ordered it to be broken. I
suppose that he has been consulting with thai
little major, who has pointed out to him that it
would brand his name with ignominy for even or
100 A VOICE FBOM 8T. H««BNA«
that his wife has read him a keture at night about
the atrocity of such a proceeding. He has donfl
enough howerer to dishonour his name by retain-
ing it so long* and by even allowing a doubt to
exist of its being sent up.** . . ,, v
The emperor afterwards spoke of his own
family. *^ My excellent motheri** said he, ^Ms a
woman of courage^ and of great talent, nK)re of a
masculine than a feminine nature, proud, and
high minded.^ She is capable of selling every
thing even to her chemise for me. I allowed bear
a million a year, besides a palace, and giving I^
many presents. To the manner in which: she
formed me at an early age^ I principally owe my
subsequent elevation. My opinion is, that the
future good or bad conduct of a child entirely
depends upon the mother. She is very tuAl
Most of my family considered that I might diei,
that accidents might happen, and consequently
* The bust had been in the island for fonrteea days, dving le-
reinl of which it was at Plantation House.
f Madame M^re, when I had the honour of aeeing her at Rome in
1819^ wif itiU the remains of a fine woman. Her manneiB wen dtg^
nified and commanding, and her deportment such at one wonld etped
to find in a queen, or in the mother of Napoleon. Her thoughts weiv
divided between ler God and her son. She saw but little oompanyi
and 1 believe that the Duke of Hamilton and myself were the only
Britons, who had dined at her table. Her eetaUishnseat was
did, though privat? and uiMwt^DlalioiM^
A tdtCB VBOM ST* HBLBKAa 101
look care to secure something^. They haire pre-
served a gfeat part of their property.
^ Josephine died woKh about eighteen miUions
of francs. She was the greatest patroness of the
fine aits that had been known in France for a se*
ries of years. She had freqaently little disputes
with Denon, and e^n with myself as she wanted
to jipociire €ne statues and pictures for her own
gallery, instead of the museum. Now, I alwajrs
acted to please the people ; and whenever I ob-
tadned a fine statue, or a valuable picture, I sent it
there for the benefit of the nation. Josephine was
grace personified (la grazia in persona). Every
thing she did was with a peculiar grace and deli-
cacy« Z never saw her act inelegantly during the
whole time we lived together. She had grace
even en se couchamt. Her toilet was a perfect
arsenal, and she effectually defended herself against
the assaults of titne.^
•'When the pope was in France," added Na^
poleon, ^'I allotted faim a most superb palace,
elegantly furnished, at Fontainbleau, and one hun-
dred thousand crowns a month for his expensef;.
—•Fifteen carriages were kept for himself and
the cardinids, though he never went out. He was
9L good man. bur a fanatic. He was greatly an-
noyed by the libels which Lad been published^
Wapteiniitf; assertions of my having ill treated bim«
i02 A VOICB PROM ST. HELliNA.
and coQtradicted them publicly, stating, that
cepc politically, he had been very well treated.
At one time,*' continued the emperor, ''I had it
in contemplation to take away ail his temporal
power^ to make him my almoner, and Paris the
capital of the Christian world J"
llth. — ^This day was sent up a beautiful white
marble bust of young Napoleon, about the natural
size, and very well executed, with an inscription,
Napol6>n Frangois Charles Joseph, &c., and deco-
rated with the grand cross of the legion of honour.
The presents frojn Lady Holland and Mr. Man-
ning accompanied it. Napoleon did not eat any
thing until eight o'clock in the evening.
Some time after the bust arrived, NapoleoA
sent for me. It was placed on the mantel-piece
in the drawing-room. *^ Look at that," said Na-
poleon, ^Mook at that image. Barbarous and
atrocious must the man be who would break
such an image as that. 1 esteem the man capable
of executing, or of ordering it, to be worse than
him who administers poison to another. For the
latter has some object to gain, but the former is
instigated by nothing but the blackest atrocity^
(Catroeitd: la piii nera) and is capable of commit-
ting any crime. That countenance would mek
the heart of the most ferocious wild beast. The
man who gave orders to break that image^ WQaM
A TOICfi ^ROM ST. HELENA. 103
•
plunge a knife into the heart of the original, if it
were in his power."* He gazed on the statue for
several minutes with great satisfaction and de-
light ; his face covered with smiles, and strongly
expressive of paternal love, and of the pride which
he felt in being the father of so lovely a boy. I
watched his countenance narrowly, which I had
an excellent opportunity of doing while he was
contemplating attentively the beautiful, though in-
animate features sculptured on the marble. No
person, who had witnessed this scene, could deny
that Napoleon was animated by the tender affec-
tions of a father.
Napoleon afterwards vented his feelings about
the alleged order for the destruction of the bust.
When I endeavoured to reason upon the uncer-
tainty of the fact, and that it assuredly had not
been given by the governor, he interrupted me by
saying, ^^ that it was in vain to attempt to deny a
known fact. The statue to me," continued he,
" was worth a million, although this governor con-
temptuously said that a hundred pounds was a
great price for it.
Mr. fialcombe came up to Count Bert rand's
about some money concerns, and had an interview
afterwards with Napoleon, who walked with Count
Bertrand and him to the end of the wood.
* This oonTersation was communicated by me to official persons
•hortly after it oecorrsd.
104 A TOICB FROM R. MMMMHA^
1 2th. — Saw Napoleon ia his bath« in which Bf
remained for four hours and a haifl Gave faim
'* M. Macirone's Interesting Facts respecting Joa*
chim Murat.** With very Utile assistance from
me« he read it through, making observations oc-
casionally. ^^ He will not be pitied,** said h^
'^ because he was a traitor. He never mentioned
to me that he was determined to defend his king-
dom ; neither had I ever told him that my inten-
tions were to unite the kingdoms of Italy and
Naples, take them from him, and make him con-
stable of the empire. I certsunly made an instru-
ment of him, to answer grand projects that I had
in view for Italy, and intended as I told you be-
fore, to have dispossessed Murat of the crown of
Naples ; but the time was not come ; and beside^
I would have given him a suitable indemnification;
His letter to Macirone was ridiculous, and bis en«>
terprize that of a madman. What reason had he
to complain of the Emperor of Austria, who had
behaved generously, and ofiei*ed him an asylum,
wherever he pleased, in his dominions, subject
to no other restriction than that of not quit-
ting it without permission ; which was very ne-
cessary. In the actual state of things, what more,
in God*s name, could he desire. I, myself, never
should have expected more in England. It was a
generous act on the part of the Emperur of Aus-
tria, and a return of good for evil^ as Murat had
A VOICE FROM 8T. HBLBNA. 106
eDdeavoured to deprive bim of Italy ; had pub-
lished proclamations exciting insurrection amongst
the Italians ; attacked the emperor*s troops like a
blockhead without reason ; and like a madman
engaged without judgment in an expedition with-
out a plan^ and so badly arranged, that he never
had been able to unite even his own guard. In
bis proclamations to the Italians, he never men-
tioned my name, although he knew that they adored
me,"
^^3ta hisogna dire la verita^ continued he,
'* Murat had not acted in that double manner in
his correspondence with me, of which he has been
accused. The papers shewn to prove it were
falsified. At that time, Murat had no understand
ing with me. Lord Exmouth appears to have
acted fairly and honourably, by candidly inform-
ing him, that he would receive him on no other
terms than as a prisoner of war. I do not be-
lieve that he offered a thousand louis for the arres-
tation of Murat. ♦*♦, who is described to be so
good and honourable a character, is neither the one
nor the other. He certainly is a person greatly
attached to me, but he is a man of the police ; you
know," added he, laughing, " what kind of honour
those gentry have. Belle arme'e, indeed," repeated
he, using an expression of contempt, alluding to
Murafs expression about the >leapolitan army.
^You know what the Neapolitans are. — Murat
VOL. U. P
106 A VOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA.
undertook an expedition da coglione al fondoj to
invade Naples with two hundred Corsicans at the
tiijie that it was occupied by twenty thousand
Austrians, and terminated his life like a madman.
He will be lamented by none, although at the
same time he was far from being guilty of that
double treachery imputed to him.**
He then repeated the opinion he had tormerly
given, had the cavalry been commanded by Murat
at Waterloo, but added, that the army considered
him as a tmitor.
13M. — Saw Napoleon in the billiard- room. He
was in very good spirits. Spoke about the possi-
bility of his having remained in France after the
battle of Waterloo, in spite of the efforts of the al-
lied powers. " My own opinion was,** said he,
" that I could not have done so without having
shed the blood of hundreds by the guillotine. I
must have plunged my hands up to this in blood ;**
St retelling out one arm and applying the finger of
the other to his arm-pits. " Had the legislative
body displayed courage, I might have succeeded^
but they were frightened and divided amongst
each other ; La Fayette was one of the chief
causes of the success of the enemies of Fmnce.
To have given me a chance, I must have had re-
course to the most sanguinary measures. The
conduct of the allies, in declaring that they waged
war against me alone, had a great effect. Had it
A YOICE FROM 8T, HELENA, 107
been possible to have rendered me inseparable
from the nation, no efforts of the allied powers
would have succeeded ; but as it was, by Isolating
me, and declaring that if I were once i*emoved, all
obstacles to a peace would cease ; people became
divided in their sentiments, and I determined to
abdicate, and remove, as far as I was concerned,
every diflBculty. Had the French nation guessed
at the intentions of the allies, or that they would
have acted as they have done since, they would
have rallied round me. But they were overreached
like the lambs in the fable, when the wolves de-
clared they only waged war against the dogs ; but
the dogs once removed, they fell upon and de-
voured the lambs.**
" There is a great difference of opinion,** conti-
nued the emperor, " as to what I ought to have
done. Many were of opinion that I ought to have
fought to the last. Others said, that fortune had
abandoned me, that Waterloo had closed my
career of arms for ever. " My own opinion is, that
I ought to have died at Waterloo ; perhaps a little
earlier. Had I died at Moscow, I should proba-
bly have had the reputation of the greatest con-
queror ever known. But the smiles of fortune were
at an end. I experienced little but reverses after-
wards; hitherto I had been unconquered. I ought
to have died at Waterloo, /at/raij du mourirj d
IVaterLoo. But the misfortune is^ that when a
106 A rojcn from st. HxtatKjC
man seeks the most for deaths he cannot flnd Hi
Men were killed around me, befoi^ behind^ eveiy
where, but no bullet for me.**
A letter written to Sir Hudson Lowe by Count
Bertrand, stating that he had not yet seen the
captain of the vessel who had brought the bust,
and expressing a wish that he might be periiiittcd
to come to Longwood.
Napoleon walked in the evening for some time
with Count Montholon.
18M. — ^A reply was returned by the governor to
Count Bertrand's note, stating that the bust had
not been brought out by the captain of the Bar*
ing. A request was however again made by the
Count, that he should be permitted to visit Long-
wood, and on this day Captain Lamb, (a half-pay
lieutenant of the navy,) came to see Count Ber^
trand. On his return I asked him to favour me
with some information about the bust. He stated,
that it had been passed and sent on board from
the custom-house, in charge of the gunner of bb
ship, an Italian, who formerly had been for many
years in the British navy. That the day after his
arrival at St Helena, he had mentioned the cir-
cumstance at a gentleman*8 house, and had de.
manded to be informed of the best mode of trans*
mitting it to Bonaparte, when he was directed to
apply to Sir Thomas Reasde, who had made name*
9ov» ftiqinries en the mibjeot; amoi^ othe«% wiiev
A VOI€S FBOtf n. HUhBNtk.' 109
ther he iiad mentioned the cifccimstanide to any
person m the island, to whieh he answered that
he had related it; he had spoken of it at a din-
ner party. He was then asked how he could
think of bringing out such an article, it being con-
trary to the instructions ; and was finally desired
by Sir Thomas Reade to say nothing about the
matter^ and also to request of those to whom he
bad mentioned it^ to be equally silent. I observed
that he must be aware of the report which was
current in the island, relative to a recommendation
Bsad to have been made to him to throw it over*
board, or break it into pieces, a contradiction of
which I was anxious to hear from his own mouth.
Captain Lamb replied, that he had heard the re-
port^ which was very general, but not true, and
professed that he did not know what it could
have arisen from.
. On this gentleman's return to town he alighted
at Sir Thomas Readers, and after a stay of a few
minutes proceeded to Plantation House, on one
of the governor's horses.
I9th. — ^The Podargus brought the intelligence
that the Conqueror, with the new admiral (Plam-
pin,) had arrived at the Cape. Letters received
for Count Bertrand, General Gourgaud, and Mar«
chand.
The admiral and Lady Maloolm, with Major
Boys of the marines^ and .^aptain Jones, royal
no A VOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA.
navy, paid a visit to Napoleoli. Colonel Fagan^
formerly judge advocate in India, had also an in--
terview with him afterwards. The colonel, who
spoke French like a native, said that Napoleon
asked him many questions in his profession which '
puzzled him, and that he was extremely shrewd
in his remarks.
Saw Napoleon in the evening. He informed
me that he had seen Sir Pulteney and Lady Mal-
colm, also Colonel Pagan. " The admiral," said he,
" endeavoured to support the governor, and said
that I might depend upon it he had sent my obser-
vations on the restrictions to £ngland. Indeed
he advocated his conduct so much, that I told
him he was like the rest of the English, trap
^go'iste, that not being myself an Englishman,
their laws did not protect me, and I had no jus-
tice to expect from them. ^E troppo Inglese.* I
told him that in Lord ^'s speech there were
three calumnies and ten lies, and that I intended
to answer it. He tried to excuse him in the same
manner the governor did, by stating that the re-
port of the speech in the newspapers might not
be correct, or faithful, and was not to be depended
upon. He is mistaken, however. In France, even
during the time of the revolutionary fury, the
speeches were faithfully reported. I gave MiUdi
one of my fine porcelain cups with a figure of
* He Is too mnoh of an RngHAm^,
A TOICB FROM ST. HKLENA. Ill
Cleopatra's needle upon it, as a mark of the
esteem which I entertain for her, and the sense I
have of her attentions. She insisted upon taking
it down herself. I cannot,** added he, " conceive
how the admiral can think of attempting to excuse
a man so unlike himself, and whose conduct I
know he cannot approve of in his heart.
Napoleon then said that he had asked Colonel
Fagan several questions about the military penal
code. " Of this subject," added he, *' I am mas-
ter, as I framed many of the laws myself. I am
a doctor of laws, and while the code Napoleon
was forming, I had repeated disputations and dis-
cussions with the compilers of it, who were asto-
nished at the knowledge which I possessed on the
subject. I also originated many of the best of its
laws.**
20th. — An order received by Captain Poppleton
from Sir Hudson Lowe, to reply by signal, yes or
noy whether Lady Malcolm, Major Boys, and Cap-
tain Jones had been in with General Bonaparte at
the same time with the admiral.
Learned that the governor appeared to be very
uneasy that some observations made by Napoleon
on Lord Bathurst's speech should have been re
peated by a captain in the navy at Solomon^s
shop ; which circumstance had been reported to
bim by Sir Thomas Reade immediately after it
occurred.
112 A TOICS FROM ST. HVUNiU
An official report again made to his excellency
by the orderly officer, of the quality of the bread
supplied to Longwood, which was so bad, that
for a considerable time Napoleon had been obliged
to make use of biscuit.
24th. — ^Napoleon's cheek swelled and inflamed^
chiefly caused by a carious tooth.
Some uneasiness manifested at Plantation House
at the declaration made by two captains in the
navy of their intentions towards Sir Thomas
Reade, whom they accused of some practices of
espionage towards them, which had not been war-
ranted either by their situation or conduct.
27th. — ^Lord Amherst arrived.
28th. — ^Lord Amherst and suite, accompanied
by the governor, paid a visit to Count and Coun-
tess Bertrand.
Napoleon observed, that the civilities of the go-
vernor were those of a gaoler. " When he came to
Bertrand's with the ambassador,** said he, ''he
merely introduced him as Lord Amherst, and
then, without sitting down or conversing for a
moment like a gentleman, turned about and took
his leave, like a gaoler or a turnkey who points
out his prisoners to visitors, then turns the key,
and leaves them together. Having come up with
Lord Amherst, he ought to have remained for a
quarter of an hour and tnen left them.**
Jufy Qrd. — Admiral Flampin, who arrived two
A VOICB FROM ST. HBLENA. 113
or three days ago m the Conqueror, came to Long-
wood with Captain Davie (his flag-captain), and
his secretary; Mr. Elliot. They were introduced
to Napoleon by Sir Pnlteney Malcolm.
Saw Napoleon afterwards^ who remarked the
singular difference of appearance between Sir
Pulteney Malcolm and his successor. " Few men,**
said he, ''have so prepossessing an exterior and
manner as Malcolm ; but the other reminds me of
one of those drunken little Dutch schippers that
I have seen in Holland, sitting at a table with a
pipe in his mouth, a cheese, and a bottle of geneva
before him.**
On my return from town, dined with the em-
peror tSte-dntite in his writing- room. He was in
very good humour. Spoke about Sir Pulteney and
Lady Malcolm ; asked if I had seen the new admi-
ral ; made some remarks on the late attacks made
on the validity of his title to the crown. .' •* By the
doctrines put forth by your government writers,"
Bind he, *^ upon the subject of legitimacy, every
throne in Europe would be shaken from its foun-
dation. If I was not a legitimate sovereign, Wil-
liam the Third was an usurper of the throne of
England, as he was brought in chiefly by the aid
of foreign bayonets. George the First was placed
on the throne by a faction, composed of a few
nobles ; I was called to that of France by the votes
of nearly four millions of Frenchmen. In fact,
you n. Q
114 A VOICE FROM ST. HfiliBNA.
the calling of me an usurper is an absurdity which
your ministers will in the end be obliged to aban-
don. If my title to the crown of France was not
legitimate, what is that of George the Third ?*•
The dinner was served on a little round table.
The emperor sat on the sofa, and I on a chair op-
posite. I was very hungry, and did great justice
to what was presented to me. Napoleon said that
he should like to see me drunk, and ordered Mar-
chand to bring a bottle of champaign, of which
he took one glass himself and made me finish the
rest, calling out in English several times, ^^ Doo-
ior^ drink, drinkr
4th. — Sir Pulteney and Lady Malcolm sailed
for England in the Newcastle frigate.
Having mislaid some sheets of my journal^ I
have been under the necessity of chiefly trusting
to my recollection for the following details. The
manner in which Captain Lamb had related the
history of the bust, had instead of dissipating the
suspicions at Longwood, rather convinced them
that some such proposal or insinuation had been
made. This was confirmed by the visit at Long*-
wood of two of the captains of the lately arrived
store-ships, both of whom saw Napoleon in the
garden. One, whose name it is not now necessary
to mention, assured Napoleon himself, and other
residents of Longwood, that he had heard Cap-
tain Lamb say, that some insinuations had been
made to him purporting that the bust should be
A VOICE FROM ST. HBLENA. 115
thrown overboard, the gunner who brought it con-
fined to his ship, and nothing more said of the
matter. Previous to this, I succeeded in persuad-
ing Napoleon that the charge agciinst Sir Thomas
Reade was unfounded, and even obtained his per-
mission to communicate his sentiments on the sub-
ject to that officer. The affair was buzzed about
the island, and gained considerable credit
It was reported that the bust in question had
been executed at Leghorn by Orders of the em-
press Marie Louise, and that she had sent it to her
husband by the gunner, as a silent though con-
vindng proof that her affections were unchanged.
Napoleon, who was extremely partial to the em-
press, was inclined to believe this supposition,
which in itself was very probable, and made him
very anxious to ascertain the truth. To accom-
plish this object, he directed Count Bertrand to
apply for permission to be granted to the gunner
to come to Longwood. After some delays and
assertions that the man was sick, during which
time he was examined on oath at Plantation House
and minutely searched, it was signified to Bertrand
that leave was granted to him to go to Longwood.
A few minutes after his arrival at Count Bertrand's
and while speaking to the Countess, Captain Pop-
pleton was sent into the room by the governor,
with orders not to allow him to speak to any of
die French, unless in his presence. This proceed-
tl6 A TOICS FROM 8T. HBLBNA.
ing, combined with the disingemious maimer in
which it was executed, was considered as an in-
sult^ and the gunner w^s immectiately directed to
withdraw.
Two or three days after Lord Amhersfs arrival,
I had the honour of dining in company with him
at Plantation House. As I have lost the notes
which I made on that occasion, I shall merely
state^ to the best of my recollection, the purport
of what I had the honour of explaining to his
lordship, viz. ^ that I conceived myself bound to
inform him, that if he went to L<mgwood with a
view of seeing Napoleon, accompanied by the go-
vernor or by any of his staff, he would certainly
meet with a refusal ; which, although far from the
intention of Napoleon, might by others be con*
strued into an insult. That considered in any
way, it was a circumstance desirable to be avoided*
That if his lordship came up with only his own
staff, I had little doubt but that be would be re-
ceived, provided Napoleon should be sufficiently
recovered from a swelling in his cheek, with which
he was then afflicted.**
His lordship was pleased to thank me for the
suggesticm.
At the end of June« or beginning of July, Count
Bertrand waited upon Lord Amherst, and in*
formed him th t Napoleon rad been unwell for
several days» and was at that moment suffering
A TOICB FBOM 8T. HBLBNA. 117
tinder a toothaco. He added, however, that if
the emperor should be in a state to see visitors
before his lordship's departure, he would xeceive
bim. Accordingly, on the 2nd or 3rd his lordship
proceeded to Longwood, accompanied by his
suite, and by Captain Murray Maxwell, of his
majesty's late ship the Alceste. About half-past
three, the ambassador was introduced to Napoleon,
with whom he remained alone for nearly two hours.
Previous to leaving him, his lordship presented
the members of his suite and Captain Maxwell, to
each of whom Napoleon addressed some obser-
vations. Mr. Ellis, the secretary, conversed with
him about a quarter of an hour. He observed to
Captain Maxwell, that he had taken a frigate of
his off the island of Lissa, in the Adriatic, in 1811,
which would amply compensate for the loss of the
Alceste. To Mr. Griffiths, the chaplain, he also
addressed several questions, and in a smiling way
recommended him to his lordship's patronage.
9th. — Some packages and cases containing a
fiuperb set of chessmen and table, two magnificent
carved ivory work-baskets, and a set of ivory
counters and box, all of Chinese manufacture, sent
to Count Bertrand for Napoleon. They were ac-
companied by a letter, stating that they had been
made by order of the Hon. Mr. Elphinstone, for
the purpose of being presented to the distinguished
personage whose initials they bore« as a mark of
118 ▲ VOICB nOM ST. HBLENA.
the gratitude entertained by the donor for the ex-
traordinary humanity displayed by him^ which
was the means of saving the life of a beloved bro-
ther.* A letter from Sir Hudson Lowe also came
with them^ stating, that when he had promised
Count Bertrand a day or two before that they
should be sent^ he was little aware that on open-
ing them^ he should have discovered something
so objectionable^ and which^ according to the letter
of his instructions^ ought to prevent their being
sent.
It appeared that on the presents was engraved
the letter N, surmounted by a crown, which his
excellency esteemed to be highly objectionable and
dangerous. Captain Heaviside, who bad brought
them from China, on having obtained permission
to visit Longwood soon after his arrival, was or-
dered by the governor to maintain a strict silence
on the subject to all the French.
In the evening. Napoleon looked at those ar-
ticles^ which he greatly admired, and signified
* The day before the battle of Waterloo^ Captain Elphlostoao
bad been severely wounded, and made prisoner. His sitoatioa
attracted the attention of Napoleon, who immediately ordered his
surgeon to dress his wounds; and perceiving that he was faint
from loss ef blood, sent him a silver goblet full of wine from lam
own canteen. On the arrival of the Bellerophon in England, hard
Keith seat his grateful thanka to Napoleon for having saved hiii
Bephew'alife.
A-YOICB FROM 8T. HELENA. 119
his intention to send the work-baskets to the
Empress Marie Lonise, the box of counters to
his mother, the chessmen and superb table to his
son.
1 1th. — Saw Napoleon in his writing-room. Had
some conversation touching Ferdinand of Spain
and the Baron Kolli. '^KoUi,** said he, ''was
discovered by the police, by his always drinking
a bottle of the best wine, which so ill corre-
sponded with his dress and apparent poverty, that
it excited a suspicion amongst some of the spies,
and he was arrested, searched, and his papers
taken from him. Amongst them was a letter
from ♦ ♦ f , inviting him to escape and promising
every support. A police agent was then dressed
up. Instructed to represent Kolli, and sent with
the papers taken from him to Ferdinand ; who
however would not attempt to effect his escape,
although he had no suspicion of the deceit prac-
tised upon him. • While at Bayonne, I offered him
permission to return to Spain, informing him how-
ever at the same time, that immediately on his
arrival in his own country, I should declare war
against him. Ferdinand refused to return, unless
under my protection. No force or compulsion
was employed to induce him to sign his abdica-
tion ; neither was he confined at the time, but had
his friends, and as many of the nobles as he
thought proper about him. Had he been treated
120 A VOICB FROM ST. HIUINA.
like me in this island * continued he, ^^ the
would have been different ; although if your Piinoe
Regent were now to offer me a reception in Eng.
land; provided I would resigpi the throne of France»
acknowledge myself a prisoner of war^ and sign a
treaty as such^ I would refuse it, and prefer re-
maining here, although I have already abdicated;
and therefoi'e the first would be of no conse*
quence. To sign a treaty, acknowledging that
the injustice of the English parliament in detain-
ing me as a prisoner of war in time of peace was
lawful, I would never do. A treaty not to quit
such part of England as might be allotted to m^
nor to meddle with politics, and be subject to
certain restrictions, I would gladly consent to ;
and moreover would desire to be naturalized as a
British subject. ^The two grand objects of my
policy were, first, to re-establish the kingdom of
Poland, as a barrier against the Russians, that I
might save Europe from those barbarians of the
north ; and next, to expel the Bourbons from Spain^
and establish a constitution which would have ren-
dered the nation free, have driven away the inqui-
sition, superstition, the friars, feodal rights and
immunities ; a constitution which would have ren-
dered the first offices in the kingdom attainable to
any person entitled to hold them by his abilities,
without any distinction of birth being necessary.
With the imbecilles wno reigned^ Spain was nearly
A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA. 121
useless to me. Besides^ I discovered that they
had made a secret treaty to betray France. With
an active government, the great resources which
Spain possesses would have been made use of
against England with such vigour^ that you would
have been forced to make a peace according to
liberal maritime rights. Also I did not like to
have a family of enemies so near to me, especially
after I had discovered this secret treaty. I was
anxious to dispossess the Bourbons : they were
80 with me. It mattered little, whether my bro-
ther or another family were placed on the throne,
provided the Bourbons were removed ; in thirty
or forty years, the ties of relationship would sig-
nify nothing, when the interests of a kingdom were
under discussion.
^^Fox,* said he, ^^was sincere and honest in
his intentions ; had he lived, there woulc^ have
been a peace, and England would now be con-
tented and happy. Fox knew the true interests
of your country. He was received with a sort ol
triumph in every city in France through which
he passed. F£tes, and every honour the inhabi-
tants could confer, were spontaneously offered,
wherever he was known. It must have been a
most gratifying sensation to him to be received
in such a manner by a country which had been
so long hostile to his own, particularly when
he saw that ^y wen tlia geouine sentiments
V0L« n. B
122 A VOICB FROM 8T, HBLBNA
of the people. Pitt, probably, would have been
murdered. I liked Fox, and loved to converse
with him. A circumstance occurred, which, al-
though accidental, must have been very flatter-
ing to him. As I paid him every attention, I
gave orders that he should have free admission
everywhere. One day he went with his family to
see St. Cloud, in which there was a private cabi*
net of mine, that had not been opened for some
time, and was never shewn to strangers. By some
accident Fox and his wife opened the door^ and
entered. There he saw the statues of a number
of great men, chiefly patriots, such as Sydney,
Hampden^ Washington, Cicero, &c. Lord Chat-
ham, and amongst the rest, his own, which was
first recognized by his wife, who said, * my dear,
this IS yours.' This little incident, although trifling
and accidental, gained him great honour, and
spread directly through Paris. « The fact was, that
a considerable time before, I had determined upon
forming a collection of statues of the greatest men,
and the most distinguished for their virtues, of all
nations. I did not admire them the less because
they were enemies, and had actually procured
busts of some of the greatest enemies of FrancCi
amongst others, that of Nelson. I was afterwards
diverted from this intention by occurrences which
did not allow me time to attend to the collecting
ofstatues.'*
JLMMWHFMPIiMMHVMKA.^ 123
^'It wMk^^' matinned Napoleon^ ^ have been
a very ewy matter to have macle the French and
Englidi good friends and k>ve one another. The
French always esteemed thQ English for thdr na-
tional qnalitiesi, and where esteem exists, love will
soon follow, if proper measnres be pursued ; they
are very nearly akin. I myself have done much
mischief to England, and had it in contemplation
to do much more, if you continued the war ;
but I never ceased to esteem you. I had then
a much better opinion of you than I now have.
I thought that there was much more liberty,
much more independence of spirit, and much
more generodty in England than there is, or I
never would have ventured upon the step I have
taken.**
I asked him his opinion of Lord Whitworth.
^ Un homme hahilcy un intrigant,^ said he, ^ as far
as I could observe him. A man of addi*ess, un
hel homme. Your ministers had no reason to
complain of him, for he answered their pur-
poses welL The account which was published
by your ministers of his interview with me was
plein de faussetis. No violence of manner <»* im-
propriety of language was used by me. The am-
bassadore -could not conceal their surprise when
they read such a mass of. misrepresentation, and
publicly pronounced it to be fiilse. His wife, the
Duchess of Dorset, was greatly disliked Iqn the
124 A YOICB FBOM m. MEMMKA.
English at Paris. They fsaid publicly that she
was sotte with pride. There was much disagree-
ment between her and many English ladies about
presentation at court. , She refused to introduce
any who had not previously been presented at St.
James's. Now there were many of your country-
women who either could not or would not be pre-
sented there, but were anxious to be presented to
me, which was refused by her and her husband.
This excited great ill-will towards them. Your
charge d'affaires also, Mr. Merry, was disliked by
the English for the same reason. Some of them
threatened to horsewhip him publicly, and he
made application to me to protect him against his
own countrymen.**
Napoleon then recounted the noble manner in
which Fox had made known to him the proposal
that had been made to assassinate him, which ge-
nerous act he did not fail to compare with the
treatment he now received, and with the attempts
made upon his life by wretches paid by * * * * in
1803, and landed in France in British men of war.
He also mentioned that his assassination had been
recommended in the English ministerial papers
of the time as a meritorious action. He subse-
quently related some anecdotes of General Wurm-
ser, " When I commanded at the siege of Man-
tua," said he, ^^ a short time before the surrender
of that fortress^ a German was taken endeavouring
A VOICB FmOM 8T. HBLBNA. 125
to effect an entrance into the town. The soldiers*
suspecting bim to be a spy, searched^ but found
nothing upon him. They then threatened him in
Frencbj which he did not understand. At last
a Frenchman, who spoke a little German, was
brought, who threatened him with death in bad
German, if he did not immediately tell all he
knew. He accompanied his menaces with violent
gestures, drew out his sword, pointed it at his
belly, and said that he would rip him up. The
poor German, frightened, and not understanding
perfectly the broken jargon spoken by the French
soldier, concluded, when he saw him point at his
belly, that his secret was discovered, and cried
out that there was no occasion to rip bim up
for if they waited a few hours, they would have it
by the course of nature. This led to further in*
quiries, when he confessed that he was the bearer
of despatches to Wurmser, which he had swal-
lowed when he perceived himself in danger of
being taken. He was immediately brought to my
head-quarters and some physicians sent for. It
was proposed to give him some purgative, but
they said it would be better to wait the operation
of nature. Accordingly he was locked up in a
room, and two officers of the staff appointed to
take charge of him, one of whom constantly re-
mained with hiuL In a few hours* the wished-for
article was found. It was rolled up in wax, and
126 A TOICB FROM ST. HBLXNA.
was not much bigger than a hazel nut. When
unrolled^ it proved to be a despatch from the £m«
peror Francis to Wurmser, written with his own
hand, enjoining him to be of good hearty to hold
out a few days longer^ and that he would be re*
lieved by a large force which was coming m such
a direction under the command of Alvinzi. Upon
this I immediately broke up with the greatest
part of my troops, marched in the route indi*
cated, met Alvinzi at the passage of the Po^ to-
tally defeated him, and returned again to the siege*
Wurmser then sent out General ♦ ♦ ♦ with propo«
sals to treat for the evacuation of the fortress. He
stated, that though the army had provisions for
fo^r months, he was willing to surrender upon
honourable terms. I signified to him that I was
so well pleased with the noble manner in which
Wurmser had defended the fortress, and eatet^
tained so high an opinion of him, that, although I
knew he had not provisions for three days mor^
I was willing to grant him an honourable capitn*
lation ; in fact that I would concede to Wurmser
every thing he desired. He was greatly astonished
at the good information I possessed of the deplor-
able state of the troops, and still more with the
good terms I offered, acquainted as I was with
his distress. Wurmser was won by it, and ever
afterwards entertained a great esteem and r^;ard
for me* After we had agreed upon the principtl
A TdlCflR FROM ST. RBLBNA. 127
conditions, I sent an officer into the town, who
found that there was only one day's proyisions re*
maining for the garrison. Previous to this, Wurm-
ser used to call me un garfon. He was very old,
brave as a lion^ but so extremely deaf, that he
could not hear the balls whistling around him.
He wanted me to enter Mantua after we had
agreed upon the capitulation ; but I considered
that I was better where I was. Besides, I was
obliged to march against the Pope's troops, who
bad made a treaty with me and afterwards broke
it. Wurmser saved my life afterwards. When I
got to Rimini, a messenger overtook me with a
letter from him, containing an account of a plan to
pkiison me, and where it was to be put in execu-
fvt>n. It was to havci been attempted at Rimini,
aiid was framed by some of the canaglie of priests.
It would in all probability have succeeded, had it
not been for this information. Wurmser, like Fox,
acted a noble part.
Napoleon then informed me of the precautions
which he made his army take when before Man-
tua, in order to preserve their health in that
sickly country. One of which was, burning large
fires all night, and obliging the troops to keep
by them. He spoke about the measures which
he had caused to be taken at Jaffa. ^^ After the
assault,** said he, ^^ it was impossible to restore
any kind of discipline until night. The infuriated
128 A VOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA.
soldiers rushed into the streets in search of wo*
men. You know what kind of people the Tuilu
are. A few of them kept up a fire in the streets.
The soldiers, who desired nothing more, whenever
a shot was discharged, cried out that they were
fired upon from certain houses, which they imme-
diately broke open, and violated all the womea
they found. This, together with their having plun-
dered pelisses and other articles of Turkish dressy
many of which were infected, produced the plague
amongst them. The following day I gave or-
ders that every soldier should bring his plunder
into the square, where all articles of apparel were
burnt. But the disease had been already disse-
minated. I caused the sick to be immediately
sent to the hospitals, where those infected with
the plague were separated from the rest For a
short time, I succeeded in persuading the troops
that it was only a fever with buboes, and not the
plague ; and in order to convince them of it, I
went publicly to the bedside of a soldier who was
infected, and handled him. This had a great
effect in encouraging them, and even some of the
surgeons, who had abandoned them, became
ashamed, and returned to their duties. In con-
sequence of the advice of the medical officers^ I
ordered that all the buboes which did not appear
likely to suppurate should be opened. Previous to
giving this order I had the experiment made upon
A T4MCK FROM ST. HBLBNA. ISQf
A-certidn number^ and allowed an equal number of
others to be treated in the usual manner, by which
it was found that a much greater proportion of the
former reeovered.**
17th. — Saw Sir Hudson Lowe in town, who
was in a very surly humour, and with whom I
had a long conversation, part of it not of a very
agreeable nature. He said, that it did not appear
^ that I had made use of arguments of a nature
sufficiently forcible to undeceive General Bona*
parte ; and that he would write to Lord Bathurst,
that all the time General Bonaparte was so much
in the diork respecting his character, no English-
men excepting Admiral Malcolm and myself had
iMX^ess to him *
1 informed his excellency that Sir Pulteney
Midloolm had done every thing in his power to
OMdliat^ and to reconcile matters, and had en*
deavonred by all means to justify his (Sir Hud*
son s) conduct ; so much so indeed, that Napoleon
had expressed his discontent at it ; as to myself^
I had often exerted myself to the utmost of my
ability to the same effect. I also suggested to his
excellency, that if Captain Lamb were to make an
affidavit of the &lsity of the charge relative to the
tappo&ed proposal to break the bust, it would
tflbctoally silence all calumniators. Sir Hudson
Lowe replied, ^ I judge from effects^ sir. Tou do
not flfipear to have testified suffident indignation at
TOU II. s
130 A YOICB FROM 8T. HBLBNA^i
what General Bonaparte said and did. Fau oygh
to have told him, that he was guilty of a dirty ac*
tion r
His excellency then said that Napoleon had
caused Bertrand to write him the most imperti-
nent letter,* which he had ever received, in reply
to one written by him relative to the chess-meni
and another equally so for the purpose of being
given to the gunner of the Baring. That he was
authorized to turn General Bertrand off the island
for his impertinence. He then desired me to ^ex-
press to General Bonaparte, that he had sent for
me in order to inquire who was the author of
a report so false as that the gunner who had
brought out the bust, had been prevented from
going on shore and disposing of his goods, and
bad in consequence sustained losses, and suflEered
bad treatment. Also, that he was greatly astonish-
ed at the tenor of the last letter he had receivedj
more so indeed than at that of any that had been
sent to him since he arnved on the island.**
\%th. — Saw Napoleon, to whom I communi-
cated the message I had been ordered to deliver
by Sir Hudson Lowe. He replied, that the gun-
ner had declared before Madame Bertrand, that
he had been prevented from going on shore for se-
veral days, and consequently had been obliged to
sell his little venture to Solomon, or some other
* App«idix^ No. VIIL and that to the Chmner^ No. Uu
A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA. 131
shop-keeper for half price,* and had thereby sus-
tained a great loss. '* I have been informed, and I
believe it,* continued the emperor, ** that this bad
treatment was caused by his having brought out
the bust of my son. The governor has expressed
astonishment at the tenor of the letters sent to
him. I want nothing from his caprice. He says,
that according to the Hgletnens dtahUs en vigueur,
he was not authorized to send up those presents.
Where are those regulations ? I have never seen
them. If they are new restrictions let them be
made known. But I never have heard, that be-
cause there was a crown upon toys, they were to
be prohibited. I protest against all restrictions
which are not made known to me previous to
their being put into execution. By Lord Bathurst*s
speech^ he has no right to make any new restric-
tion.^ Could he not have said that he protested
against the crown, and we should have laughed at
it. But, no. He must give a coup d'^inglcy re-
fer to unknown restrictions, and throw in insinua-
tions that it is to his goodness I am indebted for
them. • To a dungeon, to chains upon his legs
and arms, Vuomo s'accostuma^ ma al capriccio
d^altrui i impossibile^ (a man may accustom him-
self, but to another s caprice, it is impossible,) I
do not desire any favour from him. Perhaps he
requires that I should write him a letter or
* TUs wai Ml unquesiioiiable fadt, and notoHooB on the island.
133 A YOICK FROM 8T. HSIAIVA.
thanks daily for the air which I breathe. Uri
uomo che niammazza ogni giomo ; and then de^
sires that I should thank him for it. He reniinds
me of a German bourreau, who^ while bastinadoing
with all his might an unfortunate sufferer^ crkcl
after each blow, ^ PardoUy Monsieur^ pour Id
grande liberty que je prends.* ^ (Pardon, Sir, for
the great liberty which I take.)
I asked what answer I should return. * Tell
him,*" said Napoleon, ^ che io nan son ohhllgato A
render nessun conto al mio boja^
After walking about for a moment, he smd,
with energy, '^ Fous me faites dea insinuations^
citoit la manidre d'agir de tons les petits tyrcm
d'ltalie. Cet homme paroit n^ avoir d^ autre but que
de me tuer a coup d^Spingles, soit au morale^ soit au
physique. Un bourreau me tueroit d*un seul coup^
Sa conduite est torteuse et environn^e de mystercm
Le crime seul marche dans les t^nehres. Un jou^
son prince et sa nation seront instruits et sa m4
chante conduite sera cannue^ et sil dchappe a la
justice de la hi qtCil viole, il fCichappera pas a la
justice de Topinion de tons les hommes MairA ei
sensibles. H est un mandataire infidile, il trompe
son gouvemement, comme le montrent les vingt
mensonges et les calomnies qui sont dans le discours
de Lord * * *, Sa conduite pour le buste de mon
flsj qui est prouv^e, est horrible et digne de tout M
qu^il a fait depute un onT
A WmCR raOM 8T* HBLBNA^ 133
Tbifi answer he desired me to deliver^ whicfa^
he observed, would convince him of the real opi-
nion he entertained of his character*
After this, he said that he had informed Lord
Amherst of the conduct pursued towards hinu
*' The ambassador,"* said he, ^ declared that such
were not the intentions of the bill ; that the object
of it was not to render worse, but to ameliorate
my situation as a prisoner, and that he would not
teal to make known the representations I had
nmde to him, to the Prince Reg^ent, to Lord Liver*
pool, and to Lord Bathurst. He adced permit
sioQ to report what I said to the governor, I re-
plied, certainlf. I told him, that I had observed
the governor taking him round the new road he
IumI made, but that I supposed he had not com-
municated to him, that I could neither quit it, nor
go into any houses ; and that a prohibition had
formerly existed, which debarred me from speak-
ing to such persons as I might meet. At this he
was beaucoup frapp^^ (greatly struck). He pro-
posed that I should see the governor ; I replied,
^ Neither your prince, nor both of your Houses of
Parliament, can oblige me to see mon geolier et
mon bourreau. Ce ne£t pas t habit qui fait le geo-
Her J ces la manHre et les moswrs^ I told him that
he had pushed matters to such an extremity, that
in order to leave nothing in his power, I had con-
fined myself to my room, expecting that he would
134 A VOICE FROM ST. UBLBNA.
surround the house with sentinels. I left nothings
for him to effect, except violating my privacy,
which he could not have done without walking
over my corpse.* That I would not commit
suicide, but would exult in being assassinated by
an Englishman. Instead of drawing back, (r^cte-
ler\ it would be a ccxisolation to me in my last
moments***
The emperor concluded, by telling me that he
had no objection that the governor should be ac-
quainted with every sentiment whkh he had ex-
pressed to me.
IS/A-f* — ^Went to town in pursuance of Sir Hud-
son Lowers directions, to whom I repeated the
message which I had been ordered to deliver.
His excellency commenced his reply by denying
that he bad ordered me to say^ '^ that he, the go-
vernor, was surprised at the tenor of the two last
notes he had received^ and that he had called out
to me, oa leaving the room, to repeat the former
only i* he then said, darting a furious look at m^
" General Bonaparte's expressions convince me,
* The emperor was so firmly impressed with the idea that an at*
tempt would be made to forcibly intrude on hie privacy, that from
a short time after the departure of Sir George Cockbum, he always
kept four oar five pair of loaded pistoln, and some swords in his aparU
ments, with which he waa determined to dispatch the first who en*
tered against his will.
t In 8on& of the pages of my Journaly thia convenation kdataft
oathalWi^
A TOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA» 13S
sir^ more and more, that means have not been
taken to jostify my character to him. Tell him,**
continued he, not in the most moderate tone of
voice, ^' that to shew I am not afraid to send any
thing home, I shall send what he has stated to
mmisters*
He then demanded me to communicate any
thing else I was charged with. When I came to
that part in which Napoleon (describing what he
had related to Lord Amherst), had said, *' but
I suppose he did not tell you that I was not per-
mitted to leave the road ;" his excellency, whose
appearance I shall not attempt to describe, started
up, and with a degree of violence which consider*
ably impeded his utterance, exclaimed, "Tis false I
Tls false! I did tell him.** When he had reco-
vered a little his powers of speech, he reproached
me, in a violent manner, with not having contra-
dicted the assertion, also with having manifested
little warmth in bis defence. After he bad ex-
pended some portion of his wrath, I observed that
I had attempted his defence to the best of my
abilities, but that I did not think he ought to be
much surprised at Napoleon's not being upon
good terms with him, when he considered what
material alterations had taken place in his situa-
tion since his arrival, all of which tended to render
it more unpleasant. A long discussion now fol-
bwed, during which I recounted to his excellency
136 A TOICB nOM ST. HSUKA«
some of his own restrictions; anKmgst others^ -that
one in which he prohibited Napoleon from speaks
ing ; at which he again became very angry, and ia^
sisted that it was not a prohibition, it was onbf #
request; that it was not his fault, if General Booth
parte did not choose to ride out. I took the liberty^
then, of asking the following question. *^ Place
yourself, sir, in Napoleon^s situation, would yob
have availed yourself of the permission to ride
out, coupled with the restrictions imposed upgii
him?"* His excellency refused to reply to this
question, which he pronounced to be an insult to
him, as governor and representative of his mar-
jesty. He then desired me to give my opinion
respecting Lord Bathursfs speech. I pointed
out, that many of his lordships positions were at
variance with the truth. After hearing my opi*
nion, his excellency expressed much anger at ^ my
presuming to speak so freely of a speech made by
one of his majesty's secretaries of state ; that I ap-
peared to be an advocate for the French, and that
nobody else in the island held similar opinions, or
would dare to express them, &c.** He concluded
by telling me, that " I was not permitted for the
future to hold any conversation with General Bo-
naparte, unless upon professional subjects, and
ordering me to come to town every Monday and
Thursday, in order to report to him General Bo-
naparte's health and his habits,**
A* voice FROM ST. HSLBNA. jkSf
.. 31«/r^Had another conversation with Sir Hud^
son LowCj of a nature nearly similar to that of
yesterday. A long and yery disagreeable discus*
sion took plaee^ with which I shall not fatigue the
leader, further than by stating^ that I requested of
him to remove me from my situation.
. 2Ath. — Went to town^ according to Sir Hudson
hoiwe*8 orders. His excellency made me un-
dergo an interrogation before Sir Thomas Reade
and Major Gorrequer^ during which he again ex*
pressed much anger, because my sentiments did
not accord with his own.
finding that Sir Hudson Lowe made me in a
manner responsible for all Napoleon*s actions and
expressions, and took every opportunity of vent*
iag upon me all the ill-humour he could not per-
sonally discharge upon his prisoner, and perceiv*
ing that all hopes of accommodation between the
parties had vanished when Admiral Malcolm de-
parted, and that all my efforts to ameliorate the
situation of the captive were fruitless, I determined
to confine myself as much as possible to my me-
dical duties, and to avoid all unnecessary commu-
nication with a man, who could avail himself of
his irresponsible situation, to insult an inferior
officer.
August 2nd. — ^Went to report Napoleon's health
asusuaL
Saw Napoleon on my return^ who observed
' voL.n. »
138 A VOICB FROM ST. H8LBNA.
that he had seen in the papers some extracts from
a work written by the Duke of Rovigo^ detailing
sereral circumstances relative to Pichegru, Wright
&c. He lamented the death of lUal^* and re-
marked that ^' Savary and Rdal were the persons,
especially Rdal^ (at that time the Duke of Ro-
vigo was not in a situation to enable him to know
personally the circumstances relative to those
two)^ who from their employments knew the names
of the gaolers, turnkeys, gendarmes, and others^
and could say, ^ such a man was present, let him
be examined. Perhaps he is now in the service
of the king.* In the exalted situation which I
occupied, I could know nothing of those minute
details. Savary,** added he, " relates a circum*
stance which is perfectly true, and appears to have
preserved some order that I wrote on the occasion,
as well as recollected some of my expressions.
I did not like to have it publicly mentioned, as it
deeply implicated so near a relation to my son. I
did not wish to have it known, that one so nearly
allied by blood to him, could be capable of pro*
posing so atrocious an act as that made by Caro*
line to me. It was to make a second Sicilian
Vespers; to massacre all the English army, and
the English in Sicily, which she oflFered to effect,
* Rdal was eonseilltr dtitat and charged by the emperor to difoorer
the nature of the plot at the time alluded to, and his death bad
been reported in the last papers that arrired at St Helena; whkh
was afterwards contradicted.
Ar TOICB FROM ST. H8LBNA. 1S9
provided I would support and afford her assist-
ance after the deed was done. I threw the agent
who was the bearer of the proposal into prison^
where he remained until the revolution which sent
me to Elba. He must have been found amongst
others in the prisons that were allotted for state
criminals.* It was my intention, whenever I
made a peace with England, to have sent him over
to your ministers for examination."*
lOM. — Had some conversation with Napoleon
upon a report contained in one of the papers re-
lating to his removal to Malta, to which he did
not give any credit, observing that he should create
less alarm in England than in Malta. He re-
marked upon the impolicy of the governor, in hav-
ing by bis treatment rendered him, (Napoleon,)
an object of sympathy to Europe. " The greatest
indignation,"* continued he, "will be excited by
it. Nothing could have happened to lessen the
English so much in the estimation of other nations.
It will confirm them in the opinions of your go-
vernment, which the emigrants who returned from
England have disseminated. They returned filled
* It is a nngular circumstance that tbe wretch who was thrown
into prison for having been the bearer of a confidential letter and
massage from Qneen Caroline^ containing a proposal to massacre the
whole of the English army in Sicily^ should have been subsequently
released by the successes of that very army whose destruction he had
contemplated and proposed* This plot had no connexion with a sham
eoospiracy got up during the oommand of ffir John fitnarl In BkStf^
dhded to in anoiher part of this wodb
140 A YOICB nOBf 8Tr HBUUTAA
with hatred agaiiut your mimMen^ whtaA Ihqr
accused of having acted in the most panimopioot
manner^ and descending to the most minnte and
unworthy details. That they certainly farnidiei
them with money, but so barely as mecdy takeep
them from starvation. That they should ham
been truly wretched, had it not been for the geneii
rosity which they experienced from some private
individuals, many of whom they allowed to poe«
sess great liberality.**
''The £mperors of Austria Russia, and tihe
King of Prussia,** added he, ^ have all three told
me that I was much mistaken in believing that
they had received such large subsidies from Eng**
land. They alleged that they had never actually
obtained more than one half of the sums whick
they were nominally supposed to have received^
through the deductions made for freightage, pouiMJU
age, and numbers of other charges, and that fr^
quently a large portion was paid in merchaodiae;
Those sovereigns complained greatly of the cob*
duct of your ministers, and I am inclined to believe
with some reason. Here, through a mistaken and
scandalous parsimony, they have counteracted
their own views, which were, that as little as pos-
sible should be said of me, that I should be fiaii*
gotten. But their ill treatment, and that of tblbt
man, has made all Europe speak of me. He for-
merly thought that nothing which passed beva
would be known in Europe. He might as ire&
jnOM n"« RSLBNA* 141
iKve ananjitod to obscure the light of the snn
irith ImrlaiL Tliere are still millions in the world
wlw are interested for me. Had your ministers
acted wjsdj^ they would have given a carte blanche
for tiiis bouae. Hiis would have been making the
best of a bad business^ silenced all complaints
and attempts made for me, and in the end, with
such men as Cockbum or Malcolm, would not
have cost more than 15 or 1 6^000/. a year. But
this • • • ♦ i?eift tm homme qui a les maniires igno*
hlcM^ Tesprit astucieux et le cosur mdchant. Cock-^
ham au moins avait la marche droite et sincire.
€ritait un homme, un Anglais ; mats, mon Dieu !
cet homme-cif la nature Va fait pour un mauvais
bourreaii* That under-secretary doubtless said
to Lord B^ * J'ai trouvi votre homme.* I have
little doubt but • • • intentions at first were by a
series of ill-treatment to force away every French-
man from about me, and to induce me to commit
suicide, or to have me altogether at his disposal.
The force of public opinion has made them change
a little afterwards.*"
"If the Emperors of Austria and Russia," con*
tinued Napoleon, *^ were to make me offers of
whatever money I pleased, I would not accept of
it. JTai eu la sottise to put myself in John Biiirs
hands^ and I must swallow whatever nill may be
prepared for me ~
in teflf to an obser>'ation of incredulity ex«
142 A VOICE FROM 8T. HSLBNA.
pressed by me as to the correctness of his snppo
sition of the probable intentions of those who sent
him to St. Helena, he observed, ^ Doctor^ a man
must be worse than a blockhead who does not
perceive that I was sent here to be ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦*
either by the natural effects of ill treatment, com-
bined with the badness of the climate, or by the
probability of my being induced to commit suidd^
as I have said, or by ♦ ♦ ♦.
"Were I in England,* added Napoleon, **I
would receive but few visitors, and never speak
upon political subjects : here I do, because I am
here and am ill treated. To live quietly, to enjoy
occasionally the company of some savans, take a
ride now and then, reading, and finishing, my his*
tory, and educating my son, would form my oc-
cupations. Here the want of books greatly retards
the advance of my works.**
He informed me that the governor had sent an*
swers to the letters which had been written aboot
the Chinese articles and to the gunner ; but that
he had ordered Bert rand not to bring them to
him until he asked for them.
Saw his reply to LfOrd Bathurst*s speech, com-
mencing in the following manner : " Le bill db
parlement anglais, rCest ni une hi, ni unjtigemenii^
and proceeding to compare it with the proscrip-
tions of Sylla and Marius, " aussi Juste, ausii n4-
cessahre, mats plus barbare i" that Sylla and Marias
A TOICS FROM ST. HELENA. 143
ifisaed tb^ decrees ^^avec la pointe encore sanglante
de leurs ipdesC* but that of the English parliament
\ra8 issued in time of peace^ and sanctioned by the
jK)eptre of a great nation.
\lth. — Told Sir Hudson Lowe again (having
mentioned it to him before about a fortnight ago,
that Napoleon wished to have the garden freed
from an alkalescent and fetid weed, (spurge), with
which it was overrun at present, and desired that
it should be converted into grass, or sown with
oats or barley, as it was useless at present. 'That
he wished to have something green to look at out
of his window, and to see something growing about
him. That if it were not done within a fortnight,
the season would be over. His excellency replied,
that he would go to Longwood in a day or two.
lAth. — Went yesterday to Plantation House, in
consequence of an order from the governor that I
should go there on Tuesdc^ys and Saturdays, in-
stead of Mondays and Thursdays to town. The
governor, after having asked some question, said,
that I had on a former occasion mentioned that
General Bonaparte told me he had made use of
observations concerning him to Lord Amherst,
which he desired I would repeat. Although I
foresaw the consequences, I did not think myself
authorised to refuse, as I had been permitted to
eommunicate them to him ; and having previously
wvned bim that what he insisted upon might
144 A VOICE FROM 8T. HELBNA*
cause an access of irritation^ I therefore repeat*
ed what Napoleon had observed, viz. ^ Neither
your prince nor both your houses of parliament
can oblige me to see man geolier et mon bourreau:^
Ce fiest pas C habit qui fait le geolier^ c^est la ma*
mire et les m(eursr
Sir Hudson Lowe walked about for a few moy
ments, looking very angrily^ and asked me to give
him General Bonaparte*s reasons for making use
of such expressions. I replied that this was out
of my power. He then began, as I had foreseen^
to vent upon me all the ill humour which he entcr?-
tained towards the author of the epithets ; brought
up the old affair of the Scotch newspaper, and
concluded by saying, ^^You are not authorized,
sir, by me, to communicate with General Bonaparte
on any other than medical subjects ; and if you
hold any others with him, it is at your own peril,
unless you make such communications known to
me, and thereby free yourself from the responsi-
bility. Your business is not to act from your
own judgment or discretion, but to ask what you
may be permitted to do.**
Napoleon has been up at four o*clock for ww^
ral mornings writing, without calling any of hit
generals to assist him. He took a walk of two
hours, and appeared to be in good spirits. SaiT
him on his return in the billiard-room. Had
wme conversation about Egypt, and some d «h6
A VOtCB FROM ST. HELENA. 145
characters wbo bad accompanied him there. He
tnentioned cue Poussilgue, who had served under
him during the campaigns of Italy. " Poussilgue,"
said he, ^^ had been employed by me upon diplo-
matic and other services from Milan to Genoa,
daring which time he acquired my confidence.
He was then sent to Malta to feel the way before
I attacked it. The information he obtained was
very useful, and rendered great service. He ac-
companied me to Egypt, where I appointed him
to an office high in the commissariat, and loaded
him with favours. When I quitted Egypt, Pous-
silgue, who was left behind, for some unaccount-
able reasons conceived a great hatred for me, and
wrote letters pleines d*horreurs of me to the direc-
tory. I was then appointed first consul, which
was unknown to Poussilgue, and was the person
who opened his letters. Although astonished and
indignant at his conduct, I took no notice of them.
When I was made emperor, Poussilgue's brother,
who was a distinguished surgeon, and well known
to me, came to supplicate employment for him,
and begged of me to grant his prayer, admitting
that, at the same time, his brother had behaved to
me badly and most ungratefully. * Who is your
brother?* I replied, *I know him not. Pous-
silgue betrayed General Bonaparte, but the em-
peror knows him not. I will grant him no favour
mytelf, but if the minister of finance chuses to
VOL. II. u
146 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA.
name him, I will sign the nomination.' His brother
went to the minister, told him what I had said, s
recommendation for a very lucrative situation wu
made out, which I signed, and he enjoyed it for
several years.**
He afterwards spoke about the Mamalukei^
and said, that in the combats between the French
cavalry and them, whenever the numbers of the
parties engaged exceeded a hundred men^ the su-
periority of discipline procured the victory to the
French, but under that number, or individually,
the Mamalukes prevailed.
loth. — ^Napoleon's birth-day. He was dressed
in a brown coat. All the generals and ladies
dined with him at two o'clock ; also all the chil-
dren, excepting the two infants of Counts Bertrand
and Montholon, who were brought in and shewn
for a short time. To each of the children he gave
a present, and amused himself for some time play<*
ing with them.
17 th. — Saw Napoleon at two o'clock. He was
in extremely good humour, and very pleasant,
cracking jokes upon various subjects, and rallying
me about a young lady in the island.
" Told me, that when he was at Boulogne two
English sailors arrived there, who made their
escape from Verdun, and had passed through
the country undiscovered. *^ They had remained
there for some time. Having no money, thejr
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 147
were ' at a loss how to effect their escape, and
there was such a vigilant watch kept upon the
boats, that they despaired of being able to seize
upon one. They made a sort of vessel of little
ribs of wood, which they formed with their knives,
living as well as they could upon roots and fruits.
This bark of theirs they covered with calico,
which they stretched over the ribs. When finished,
it was not more than about three feet and a half
in length, and of a proportionate breath, and so
light, that one of them carried it on his shoulders.
In this machine they determined to attempt their
passage to England. Seeing an English frigate ap-
proach very near to the shore, they launched their
bark, and attempted to join her; but before they
had proceeded very far they were discovered by
the douanierSy seized and brought back. The
story transpired in consequence of the astonish-
ment excited at seeing two men venture out to sea
in such a fragile conveyance. I heard of it, and
ordered them with their little ship to be brought
before me. I was, myself, struck with astonish-
ment at the idea of men trusting their lives to
such an article ; and asked them if it was possi*
ble they could have intended to have gone to sea
in that? They replied, that to convince me of
it, they were ready that moment to attempt it
again in the same vessel. Admiring the boldness
of the attempt^ and the bluntness of the reply, I
148 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
ordered that they should be set at liberty, "some
Napoleon^s given to them, and a conveyance to the
English squadron provided for them,
to this, they were going to be tried as spies^
several persons had seen them lurking about tbe
camp for some days."
*^ When I made my triumphal entry into Ber-
lin,** said Napoleon, " the mother of the Prince of
Orange, the sister of the king, was left behind sick
in the upper apartments of the palace, and very
badly off, having been abandoned without money,
and neglected by almost eveiy body. A* day or
two after my arrival there, some of her attendants
came to ask for assistance, as they had not where*
withal to procure even fuel for her use. The king,
indeed, had neglected her most shamefully. The
moment it was made known to me, I ordered a
hundred thousand francs to be instantly sent, and
went to see her myself afterwards. I caused her
to be furnished with every thing befitting her rank,
and we had frequent interviews together. She
was much obliged to me, and a kind of friendship
commenced between us. I liked her conversa-
tion. When her son, the Prince of Orange was
aid-de-camp to Wellington, he went over from
Spain or Portugal to London, at the time that the
intended marriage between the Princess Charlotte
and him was in contemplation. From London be
wrote several letters to his mother, giying a de-
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 149
scription of the whole of the royal family^ begin-
ning with the queen, and going through every
branch, nominatively, filled with horreurs and
€ottises, particularly of the * ♦ ♦ * against whom he
appeared to be particularly indignant. He did not
even spare *** whom he painted as ambitious,
and desirous of command, and that he should be
a mere cipher and a stallion if **♦* to which he
declared he never would submit. There were
many fine and heroic sentiments expressed in
them, which although in a romantic style, did the
writer honour, but he tore the whole « * * * to
pieces. Those letters he sent by an agent to
Hamburgh, for the purpose of being forwarded to
bis mother. This agent was arrested, his papers
seized, and despatched to Paris, where they were
examined and laid before me. I read them in a
cursory manner, and laughed very heartily at their
contents. Afterwards, in order to retaliate a lit-
tle for all the abuse heaped upon me, I ordered
them to be sent to the Moniteui and published.
Meanwhile, however, the agent acquainted the
princess mother with his arrest and the seizure of
Jiis papers, with the contents of which he was
partly acquainted. Before the publication was
<;ompleted, I received a letter from her, conjuring
me not to make them public, stating to me what
injury it would do to her son and her family* and
ealling to my recollection the time I had been at
150 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
Berlin. I was touched with her letter, and coiiii«
termanded the publishing of the letters, which
would have made a great noise in Europe, and
have been extremely disagreeable to the pers^ms
described in them.**
Napoleon then spoke of the late Queen of Prus-
sia in very high terms, said that he had an esteem
for her, and that if the king had brought her at
first to Tilsit, it would in all probability have pro-
cured him better terms. "She was elegant, inge-
nuous, and extremely well informed,** continued
Napoleon. " She bitterly lamented the war. * Ab,'
said she to me, * la memoire du grand Friddricfwus
a fait dgarer. Nous nous crimes pareils a lui^ et
nous ne le sommes pas^ **
I observed to the emperor that his enemies had
accused him of having treated her very barba-
rously. '^What,** said he, *^do they say that I
poisoned her too ?** I replied no ; but that they
asserted that he had been the means of her death
in consequence of the misfortunes whidi he had
caused to befal her country. " Why,** replied
Napoleon, ^ that grief for the fallen situation of her
husband and her country, and for the losses they
had sustained, and the humiliated state they were
reduced to, may have accelerated her death, is very
probable. But that was not my fault. Why did
her husband declare war against me ? However,
instead of treating her barbarously, nobody could
A YOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 151
have paid her more attention or respect^ or have es-
teemed her more^ for which I received her thanks.
He then made some judicious remarks upon the
Princess of Salms^ and was not insensible to the
charms of her person : nor did he fail to pay a
tribute to her wit, placing her, however, on many
accounts far below her sister.
Napoleon then made some observations about
Malta, an abode with which he declared he would
be satisfied for some yeai-s, professing at the same
time his disbelief of such being the intentions of
government. He added that the best thing our
government could do, would be to make a kind
of treaty with him, by which he would bind him-
self not to quit Malta for a certain number of
years without the permission of the Prince Regent,
with a condition that at the expiration of the time
he should be received in England. This would
save the nation six or eight millions of francs
yearly. " It would," added he, " have been much
more honourable for England (and indeed for the
coalesced powers) and more humane, to have
caused me to be shot on board of the Bellerophon,
in the rage of the moment, than to have condemned
me to be exiled to such a rock as this. They
might have excused themselves by saying, * It is
necessary for the tranquillity of Europe to put
this man out of the way.' This would have at
once freed them from all alarm, and saved millions
152 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
to their treasury, besides being much more humane.
When the discussions about the sentence on Louis
the Sixteenth took place, Condorcet declared tliat
his conscience would not allow him to vote for
death, but in place of that he voted that the unfor-
tunate Louis should be condemned to the galleys
for life. This proposal met with universal disap-
probation, even from the most violent of the jaco-
bins, and great odium was thrown upon Condorcet
. for having voted for that, which in the opinion of
all, was worse than death. Now exile here, particu-
larly under the man they have chosen, is infinitely
worse than condemnation to the galleys. For
there you have the sun of Europe, and if you have
money, can enjoy comparatively a tolerable exist-
ence. I recollect at Toulon** (I think he said) " a
colonel, who had been condemned to the galleys for
life. He was certainly confined, but he never was
obliged to work, and had every thing allowed him,
at his own expense, which could render his situa-
tion supportable. The keeper, unless he was like
this governor, would never degrade a man who had
held such a situation by obliging him to labour.
Besides, for money a man can always get some-
body to work for him. I therefore maintain, that
it would have been more honourable, more con-
sistent with policy, and, above all, more humane,
to have caused me to be quietly fusilU on board
of the Bellerophon. It would have been preferred
A VOICB FROM 8T. HELENA. 153
by myself. • I really think that Lord *** ima-
gined, that by a series of ill-treatment and Immi-
liation, they would induce me to commit suicide,
and for that purpose found aon homme. Tlie very
idea of this, if I ever had any thoughts of doing
BO^ would eflfectually prevent my putting it into
execution.**
22nd. — Saw Napoleon at twelve o'clock. He
has continued to rise at four o clock in the morn-
ing, and to employ his time in reading and writ-
ing. . Pointed out to me tliat he had been obliged
to cause his coat to be turned, as there was no
green cloth on the island, except of what the
French call couleur de merde d'oie. Spoke about
his detention in so horrible an abode, '^ // y avait
quelque chose de sauvage. The * * • did not know
how to separate the man from the situation. As
first consul, as emperor, being at war with Eng-
land, I did her as much harm as I could ; but as
plain Napoleon Bonaparte now, when all the
world is at peace, what right have they to detain
me as a prisoner. It is a great nation going to
war with one man."
" I have," continued he, *^ reflected upon my
conduct towards the English, and have nothing
to reproach myself with, except not having done
enough against them as an enemy. I ought to
have put their prisoners in pontons, not to punish
the poor prisoners, as it was not their fault, but to
VOL. II. X
154 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
force your oligarchy to remove the French from
tliose in which they had immured them.**
*He then observed that the eyes of tlie English
would soon be opened with respect to liis charac-
ter. " They will see," said he, " the folly and in-
justice of keeping me in this island ; an island so
bad, that I can compare it to nothing else than the
face of the wretch they have sent out as governor.
This and the enormous expense will cause my re-
moval.'*
I observed, that I was afraid the present dis-
turbed state of England would opei-ate most
powerfully against his being permitted to go to
England. " Bah,** replied he, "your ministei*s are
not silly enough to believe that I would lose my
character so far as to put myself at the head of a
canaille^ even if the latter were willing to place a
foreigner at their head, which is very unlikely.
Even in France I refused to do it. I have too great
a regard for the reputation I shall leave to poste-
rity to act the adventurer. No, no, it is hatred^
and the fear they have of the information I could
give. They are afraid I should say it was not true,*
in reply to the histories of many political events
which they have explained in their own way.**
"What do you think,** said he, "of all things in
the world would give me the greatest pleasure ?**
I was on the point of replying, removal from St.
* These words were spoken in English.
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 155
Helena, when he said, " To be able to go about
incognito in London and other parts of England^
to the restaurateurs, with a friend, to dine in public
at the expense of half-a-guinea or a guinea, and
listen to the conversation of the company ; to go
through them all, changing almost daily, and in
this manner, with my own ears, to hear the people
express their sentiments, in their unguarded mo-
ments, freely and without restraint ; to hear their
real opinion of myself, and of the surprising occur-
rences of the last twenty yeai-s." I observed, that
he would hear much evil and much good of him-
self. ** Oh, as to the evil,** replied he, " I care
not about that. I am well used to it. Besides, I
know that the public opinion will be changed.
The nation will be just as much disgusted at the
libels published against me, as they formerly were
greedy in reading and believing them. This,"
added he, " and the education of my son, would
form ray greatest pleasure. It was my intention
to have done this, had I reached America.* The
happiest days of my life were from sixteen to
twenty, during the semestresy when I used to go
about, as I have told you I should wish to do,
from one restaurateur to another, living moderately,
and having a lodging, for which I paid thi'ee louis
a month. They were the happiest days of my
life. * I was always so much occupied, that I may
say I never was truly happy upon the throne. Not
156 VOICE FROM ST. HBLBMA.
that I have to reproach myself with doing cvBl
whilst seated there ; on the contrary, I restored
fifty thousand families to their country, and the
improvements I made in France will speak for
themselves, I made war certainly ; of this there
is no doubt : but in almost every instance I was
either forced to it, or I had some great political
object in view.**
" Had I died at Moscow " continued he, ** I
should have left behind me a reputation as a con-
queror, without a parallel in liistory. A ball
ought to have put an end to me there : whereas,
when a man like me dies in misfortune, his repu-
tation is lessened. Then I had never received a
check No doubt afterwards at Lutzen and
Bautzen, with an army of recruits and without
cavalry, I re-established my reputation, and the
campaign of 1814, with such an inferior force, did
not lessen it.
I observed that the generality of the world was
surprised that he had not made a peace at Cha*
tillon, when circumstances were apparently des*
perate for him. Napoleon replied, " I could not
consent to render the empire less than what it was
when I mounted the throne ; I had sworn to pre*
serve it. Moreover, the allied powers each day
brought forth some condition more inadmissible
than on the preceding one. You may think it
strange^ but I assure you that I would not sign it
▲ TOICS FHOM n. HKLBNA« 157
now. Had I remained on the throne after the
return from Elba, I would have kept it, because I
found it made, but I would not have made it my-
self originally. My great fault was in not having
made peace at Dresden. My error was in having
made that armistice. Had I pushed on at that
time, my father-in-law would not have been against
me,**
Napoleon then said, that notwithstanding the
occupation of P^ris by the allies, he should still
have succeeded had it not been for the treachery
of Marmont, and have driven them out of France.
His plan was arranged. He was to have entered
Fbris in the dead of night. The whole of the
crniaille of the city were at the same time to attack
the allies from the houses, who fighting against
troops acquainted with the localities, would have
been cut to pieces, and obliged to abandon the
city with immense loss. The canaille were all
ready. (I think he also said that he would have
cut oflf the allies from their park of artillery).
Once driven from Paris, the mass of the nation
would have risen against them. " I mentioned
this plan,* added he, " to Baron KoUer, who ad-
mitted the danger of it. Marmont will be an ob-
ject of horror to posterity. As long as France
exists^ the name of Marmont will not be mentioned
without shuddering. He feels it,* added Napo-
leon^ " und is at this moment probably the most
158 ▲ YOIGB 9R0M 8T. HELENA.
miserable man in existence. He cannot forgive
himself^ and he will terminate his life like Juda&T
I took the liberty of asking what he considered
to be the happiest time of his life^ since bis elevar
tion to the throne. '^ The march from Cannes to
Paris,** was his reply. ,
" When Castlereagh was at Chatillon with the
ambassadors of the allied powers^ after some suc-
cesses of mine, and when I had in a manner in-
vested the town, he was greatly alarmed lest I
might seize and make him a prisoner ; not being
accredited as an ambassador^ nor invested with
any diplomatic character to France, I might
have taken him as an enemy. He went to Caa-
laincourt, to whom he mentioned that he 'la-
boured under considerable apprehensions that I
should cause violent hands to be laid upon him/
as he acknowledged I had a right to do. It was
impossible for him to get away without falling in
with my troops. Caulaincourt replied, that as far
as his own opinion went, he would say that I
would not meddle with him, but that he could not
answer for what I might do. Immediately after^
Caulaincourt wrote to me what Castlereagh had
said and his own answer. I signified to him in
reply, that he was to tell Lord Castlereagh to
make his mind easy, and stay where he was ; that
I would consider him as an ambassador. At Cha-
tillon," continued he, ^* when speaking about the
A VOICE FROM 8T. HELENA. 159
liberty enjoyed in England, Castlereagh observed,
in a contemptuous manner, that it was not the
thing most to be esteemed in your country^ that
it was an usage which they were obliged to put up
with ; but had become an abuse^ and would not
answer for other countries.'*
I ventured to express my surprise to Napoleon
that the empress Marie Louise had not made
some exertion in his behalf. " I believe,** replied
the emperor, *^ that Marie Louise is just as much
a state prisoner as I am myself, except that more
attention is paid to decorum in the restraints im-
posed upon her. I have always had occasion to
praise the conduct of my good Louise, and I be-
lieve that it is totally out of her power to assist
me; moreover, she is young and timorous. It was,
perhaps, a misfortune to me that I had not married
a sister of the emperor Alexander, as proposed to
me by Alexander himself at Erfurth. But there
were inconveniences in that union, arising from
her religion. I did not like to allow a Russian
priest to be the confessor of my wife, as I consi-
dered that he would have been a spy in the Thuil-
leries for Alexander. It has been said, that ray
union with Marie Louise was made a stipulation
in the treaty of peace with Austria, which is not
true. I should have spumed the idea. It was
first proposed by the emperor Francis himself,
and to Mettemicb, by Narbonne.*
160 A TOICB FROM ST. HBLBKA«
•^ Of all the ambassadors I ever employed,*
added Napoleon, *^ Narbomie* was the ablest.
He bad beaucoup d*€sprity and his moral character
was unexceptionable. While he was at Vienna,
France was never duped by Metternich as she had
been before. He penetrated Metternich's projects
in a few days. Had such a man as Narbonne
been sent to Alexander in 1812, it is probable
that peace would have been made. Russia de-
manded Dantzic, and an indemnification for the
Duke of Oldenburg. RomanzofF persuaded Alex-
ander that I would make any sacrifices to av(nd
war, and that the favourable moment for him to
make demands had arrived. After the first success
I had gained, Alexander sent a message to me, that
if I would quit his territory and retreat to the
Niemen, he would treat with me. However, I did
not believe that he was of good faith^ and judged
it to be a ruscy otherwise we might have treated
in person at Wilna, and settled every thing."
23rrf. — ^Yesterday Mr. Smithers, midshipman of
the Conqueror, came up to Longwood with a
pass from Sir Hudson Lowe to go to Count Ber-
* I was informed by Cipriani, that Narbonne was the natural son
of Louis the Fifteenth, and the fruit of an incestuous intercourse
which that legitimate maintained with his own daughter Adelaide ;
and that documents were in existence, and even persons living, who
could incontestably prove it. In justice, however, 1 must say, that
Napoleon, to whom I communicated the assertion, told me that ho
disbelieyed the fact of the incest, bat not the xwt
JL TOICB noif SX. BBUBNA. 161
tiand*8. After having passed the gaard-room at
the entnnce, he was called back by the oiSicer,
and told that his pass was for the 21 st^ and conse-
qaentiy he could not be permitted to enter^ as the
date of the passport had expired the day before.*
At no greater distance of time than last Tues-
day^ Sir Hudson Lowe manifested great ill-humour
towards me» for having presumed to assert that he
sometimes had given passes in which the day was
specified, and related to him a very strong in-
stance in that of Mr. Urmston. His excellency
also officially denied the fact to Count Bertrand.
Previous to Mr. Smithers being permitted to
come up, he was subjected to a long interrogation
upon the nature of bis business there ; how he
knew the Bertrands^ . that he surely must have
some letters to them from Captain Hamilton of
the navy, and many other indications of suspicion
and distrust of an officer high in rank.
General Gourgaud informed me this day^ that
at the close of the battle of Waterloo, when the
charge made by the French had failed, and the
English charged in their turn, a part of the cavalry
of the latter, with some tirailleurs intermingled with
them, approached to within a hundred or a hun-
dred and fifty toises of the spot where the emperor
* The orderly officei^ when this was reported to him^ took it upon
Umself to order the officer of the guard to allow Mr. Smithere to
CDter.
VOL. !!• Y
1612 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA.
was standing with only Soult^ Drouot^ Bertrand,
and himself. Close to them was a small French
battalion drawn up in a square. Napoleon or-
dered Gourgaud to fire some shots from two or
three field-pieces which belonged to the battalion,
to drive away the cavaliy, which were approach-
ing nearer. This was put into execution, and one
of those shots carried away the Marquis of An-
glesea*s leg. Napoleon then placed himself with
the column and wanted to charge, excliuming^
^^Ilfaut mourir iciy ilfaut mourhr sur le champ de
batailley At this time the English tirailleurs were
firing at them, and they expected every moment
to be charged. Lab^doy^re was galloping aboat
like a madman, with his arms extended before
him, seeking to be killed. Napoleon was pre-
vented from throwing himself amongst the enemy
by Soult, who laid hold of the bridle, exclaiming,
that he would not be killed but taken prisoner,
and with the aid of the others, finally succeeded
in compelling him to leave the field at the time
there was none other than the above-mentioned
small column to oppose the Prussians, who were
advancing. Napoleon was so fatigued, that on the
road to Jemappe and Philip vi lie, he would have
frequently fallen from his horse, had he not been
supported by Gourgaud and two others, who were
the only persons with him for some time. He was
silent for a long time. When on the road to Fkuis,
A YOICB FROM ST. HXLBNA. 163
it was decided, at one moment, that the emperor
should, instantly on his arrival, go booted and
spurred to the senate, which would have had a
great effect, but this resolution was not acted upon.
24th. — Went to Plantation House, where, as
customary, I had to suffer a long interrogation and
much ill-humour. Amongst other matters, his
excellency, after asking how I came to know that
Cipriani had had a conversation with him relative
to the deficiences at Longwood, said, '^ that I had
no business to have any conversation with the
maitre dTidtel of Longwood concerning the pro-
visions allowed; that in every thing not strictly
medical, I was to ask him what I was to be per-
mitted to do ? that I was not to use my own discre-
tion or judgment with respect to any conversation
with General Bonaparte, not medical, or reply to
his questions, unless I made such communications
known to him, as he (the governor) was the only
judge of their propriety.**
• I replied, that if he expected me to communi-
cate to him the conversations I held with Napoleon,
he was mistaken. That, with the exception of
what I had frequently stated to him before, I
should be silent. That according to the doctrine
he laid down, I must communicate to him all
that passed; by his own words I had no right
to employ my own judgment or discretion, and
consequently must tell him every thing, as retain*
164 A ¥OI€E FROM ST. HBLENA.
ing any part of a conversation would be aa exer-
cising of my judgment.
He shuffled for a while in reply to this, aod
brought the old threadbare subject of the Seotch
newspaper again on the carpet.
Had some conversation with Napoleon about
Lord Castlereagh. "Never yet," said he, ^has
there been so much political imbecility displayed
by man as there has been by Lord Castlereagh.
A king is forced upon the throne contrary to the
wishes and to the opinion of the people, and then,
as a mode of ingratiating himself with that peo-
ple, and of conciliating them, he is compelled to
make them pay contributions ruinous to the coun-
try. They have made the Bourbons les hourreaux
de leur peuple, of the Vendeans and others who
have bled for them, and by whose means they
gained the battle of Waterloo, for had it not been
for that business in La Vendue, I should have had
thirty thousand men more at Waterloo. Then
again those Bourbons have made a concordat
with the pope, which would not have answered
in the tenth or fifteenth century. They have
agreed to establish by degrees all the laws of the
church. What does this mean but the suppres-
sion of Protestantism and of all other religions
except the Roman Catholic ? You know that the
Roman doctrine is, that out of the pale of the
church, no one can be saved. It is in fyict re-es-
tablishing all the old bigotry and superstition.
A TOICK FROM ST. HELENA. 165
and ev€n the inquisition, as that was one of the
laws of the church. The Protestants must see
that the intention of this concordat is to deprive
them of Hie liberty of worship, and to tolerate no
reh'gion but the Roman Catholic The proprietors
of. national domains that once belonged to the
church must tremble, as it leads to the restitution
of them. The Protestants will be worse than be-
fore the revolution, at which time if one of them
wanted to marry, be was obliged to say that he
was- a Catholic. Although their churches were
thea in a mamier tolerated, yet if they frequently
opened them, they were visited and tormented
by the p^ce. That papaccio^ that pretaccio, has
been imbecile enough to give his consent to a mea-
sure that will ultimately cause the assassination
of the priests. At one time I had myself the
greatest difficulty in preventing the people from
accomplishing it. Oh, those Bourbons! Well
may the French say, ils riont rien apprU^ its riont
rien oublid. They rest upon a sleeping lion. I
«ee France in a flame. 1 gee rivers of blood flow-
ing. You will behold a general massacre of the
Bourbons take place, tiie old noblesse, the priests,
and many an innocent Englishman and friend to
liberty will pay the forfeit of his life to expiate the
wicked policy of Lord Castlereagh. The imagi-
nation always exceeds the reality, and the great
latitude given in the concordat to the king and to
the priests to revive all the ancient superstition and
166 A VOICE FROM 8T. HELENA. ^
intolerance, will set France in a flame^ and pro^
duce another revolution of * bonnets rouges^ and
d has les calottes^
25th. — ^Napoleon in high spirits. Saw him
in the drawing-room, dressed in a grey double-
breasted coat. He was very facetious in his re*
marks about the governors of Bengnilla, the Cape
de Verd islands, &c.
Had some conversation with him relative to
Spain. I asked if it were true that the Qneen
had said to Ferdinand in his presence, that he
was her son, but not the son of the king, thus
proclaiming her own infamy ? Napoleon assured
me, that she had never made use of such expres-
sions before him. That she had told him he was
not worthy of being the son of the king. I ob-
served that it had been asserted that he had offered
to give Ferdinand one of his relations in mar-
riage, and make him King of Naples ; to marry
another of his relations to Don Carlos, and to
grant him a sovereignty. Napoleon replied, " All
those assertions are false. Ferdinand himself re-
peatedly asked me to give him one of my relations
in maiTiage, but I never asked him.** I said, that
in a publication of great circulation it was broadty
asserted, that he had given Ferdinand the choice
between abdication and death ; that in conse-
quence of this, and the threats of King Cbaries,
against himself and his followers, he had abdh-
cated. ^^Tbat is also Mse,"* replied Napoleoa^
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 167
* There was no threat made use of, or compul*
sion. If indeed Ferdinand had been treated as I
am her^ or put to the torture, or deprived of food,
it might be said that he was forced to it. Your
♦♦* would willingly have put me to death, but
finding that the nation would not consent, they
sent me here, in order that I might die a death
slow enough to appear natural, or in the hope that
I might commit suicide.* The fact is, that had it
not been for their broils and quarrels amongst
themselves, I should never have thought of dispos-
sessing them.** I said that some of the publica-
tions against him asserted that he had been the
contriver of the whole himself, that he might take
advantage of it afterwards. *^ A man like me,** re-
plied the emperor, " is always either un dio or un
* The reader will perceive by the following extract that Napoleon
had long condemned the act of self-murder.
St, Cloud. — Extrait du livre d'ordre des Grenadiers a Cheval de la
Qarde Consulaire.
" Ordre du, 92 Florial, An. X.
" Le grenadier Grobbin s'est euicide pour des raisons d'amour ; il
ctait d'sdlleurs bon sujet ; c'est le second ^venement de cette nuture
qui arrive au corps depuis un mois.
" Le Premier Consul ordonne qu'il soit mis k I'ordre du jour de
la garde, qu'un soldat doit savoir vaincre la douleur et la melan-
colie des passions ; qu'il y a autant de vrai courage a souffrir
avec Constance les peines de Vkme, qu'a rester fixe sous la mitraille
d*une batterie. S'abandonner au chagrin sans resister, se tuer
pour s'y soustraire^ c'est abandonner le champ de bataille avant
d'a¥oir vaincu.
(Signi; ) ** Bonaparte, Premier ConsuL"
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
diavoh (a god or a devil). It is as true as is the
assertion that I brought over Pichegru and Georges
to Paris purposely to ruin Moreau. When I saw
those imhccilles quarrelling and trying to dethrone
each other, I thought that I might as well take
advantage of it, and dispossess an inimical family;
but I was not the contriver of their disputes. Had
I known at first that the transaction wouhl ha\-e
given me so much trouble, or that it would even
have cost the lives of two hundred racn, I never
would have attempted it ; but being once embark-
ed, it was necessary to go forward."
He spoke about the battle of Esling (or Eylau),
and observed, that it admitted a great deal to be
said on both sides. He had remained on the field of
battle, but had retired in the night, and it might be
thought that he had sustained a reverse. Lutzen*
and Bautzen, he observed, he had most decidedly
gained. "When only seventeen," said Napoleon,
"I composed a little history of Corsica, which I
submitted to the Abb^ Raynal, who praised, and
wished that I would publish it ; adding, that it
would do me much credit, and render great ser-
vice to the cause then in agitation. I am," conti-
nued Napoleon, " very glad that I did not, as it
was written in the spirit of the day, at a time when
the rage for republicanism existed, and contained
* General Gourgaud informed me, that at Lutien, the emperor
hod only two regimenta of cavalry.
iuTOICS FROM ST. HELENA. 109
tbe Strangest doctrines that could be promulgated
IB support of it It was full of republicanism, and
breathed freedom in every line» too much so indeed :
I hflEWnnoe lost it.» When at Lyon, in 1786, 1 gained
a gold medal from the college on the following
theme: 'What are the sentiments most advisable
te be recommended, in order to render men happy/
When J was seated on the throne, a number of
years afterwards, I mentioned this to Talleyrand,
wlio sent off a courier to Lyon to procure the
tfeatise^ which he easily obtained, by knowing
the theme, as the author's name was unknown.
One day afterwards, when we were alone, TaU
leyrand took it out of his pocket, and thinking to
please and pay his court to me, put it into my
hands, and asked if I knew it. I immediately re*
cognised the writing, and threw it into the fire,
where it was consumed, in spite of Talleyrand*s
endeavours to save it. He was greatly mortified,
as he had not taken the precaution of causing a
copy to be made previous to shewing it to me. I
was very much pleased, as the style of the work
was similar to that on Corsica, abounding in re-
publican ideas, and exalted sentiments of liberty,
suggested by the warmth of a fervid imagination,
at a moment when youth, and the rage of the times
lad inflamed my mind. The sentiments in it were
too exalted ever to be put into practice."-
I asked his opinion about Robespierre. ^^ Ro-
kspierre,** replied Napoleouj ^^ was by no means
VOL. II. z
170 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
the worst character who figured in the revolu-
tion. He opposed trying the queen. He was
not an Atheist ; on the contrary, he had publicly
maintained the existence of a Supreme Being,
in opposition to many of his colleagues. Nei-
ther was he of opinion that it was necessary to
exterminate all priests and nobles, like many
others. Marat, for example, maintained, that to
insure the liberties of France, it was necessary
that six hundred thousand heads should fall.
Robespierre wanted to proclaim the king, hors
de la loif and not to go through the ridiculous
mockery of trying him. Robespierre was a fa-
natic, a monster, but he was incorruptible, and
incapable of robbing, or of causing the deaths
of others, either from personal enmity, or a de-
sire of enriching himself. He was an enthusiast,
but one who really believed that he was act-
ing right, and died not worth a sous. In some
respects, Robespierre may be said to have been
an honest man. All the crimes committed by
Hebert, Chaumette, Collot d'Herbois, and others,
were imputed to him. Marat," continued he^
'^ Billaud de Varennes, Fouch^, Hebert, and seve-
ral others, were infinitely worse than Robespierre.
It was truly astonishing,** added Napoleon, "to
see those fanatics, who, bathed up to the elbows
in blood, would not for the world have taken a
piece of money, or a watch, belonging to the vic-
tims they were butchering. There was not an
A TOICI raOM 8T. HBUINA. 171
JnBtaiM^ in which they had not brought the pro-
perty oi their victims to the amiti of public
safety. Wading in blood at every step, they be-
lieved they were doing right, and scrupled to
commit the smallest act bordering upon disho-
nesty. Snch was the power of fanaticism, that
they conceived they were acting uprightly, at a time
when a man's life was no more regarded by them
than that of a fly. At the very time that Marat
and Robespierre were committing those massacres,
if Pitt had offered them two hundred millions,
they would have refused it with indignation. They
even tried and guillotined some of their own num-
ber^ (snch as Fabre d*Eglantine), who were guilty
oi plundering. - Not so Talleyrand, Danton, Bar-
ras, Fonch^ : they were^figurants, and would have
espoused any side for money. Talleyrand, c^est
h plus vil des agioteurs^ homme corrompu^ sans opu
nion, mats homme d* esprit. Kjigurant ready to
sell himself, and every thing to the best bidder.
Barras was snch another. When I commanded
the army of Italy, Barras made the Venetian am-
bassador pay to him two hundred thousand dol-
lars, (I think he said), for writing a letter, begging
of me to be favourable to the republic of Venice,
with which I ^ (here he made use of a most
significant gesture,) '^ I never p^d any attention to
such letters. From my first career, I always com*
manded myself. TaUeyrand, in like manner^ sold
172 A TOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA.
every thing. Fouch6 in a less degree ; his traffic
\ras in an inferior line."*
I asked how it had been possible that Barrdre
had escaped during the different ebullitions of the
revolution ? " Barr&re ? — parceque 6 est un hamme
safis caractere. A man who changed and adapted
himself to every side. He has the reputation of
being a man of talent, but I did not find him so.
I employed him to write, but he did not display
abilitv. He used many flowers of rhetoric, but no
• • *
solid argument. Nothing but cogUanerie wrapped
up in high sounding language.**
'*0f all the sanguinary monsterSi** added the em^
peror, '' who reigned in the revolution^ BiUaud de
^'a^onues was the worst Carnot c'est le plus hon-
nete ifes hommes. He left France without a sous.**
" Madame Campan,** continued Napoleon, " had
a very iiulitforent opinion of Marie Antoinette. She
toUl mo that a person, well known for his attach-
ment to tl)c queen, came to see her at Versailles,
on the oth or Gth of October, where he remained all
nicht. The palace was stormed by the populace.
Marie Antoinette fled, undressed, from her own
ohamher to that of the king for shelter, and the lover
desiviuled fn^m the window. On going to seek the
queen in her bed-room, Madame Campan found
that she was absent, but discovered a pair of
breeches, which the favourite had left behind in his
haste, and which were immediately recognized.**
▲ TOICB FBOM ST. HELENA. 173
"After the events in Brumaire," said he, "I
had a long conversation with Sieyes, during which
I entered considerably into the state of France,
and divers political matters. Sieyes went imme-
diately after to sup with some stern republicans,
his most intimate friends. After the servants had
left the room, he took off his cap, and throwing it
upon the ground. ^ Messieurs said he, ^^ il riy a
plus de republique, elle est ddjh morte. I have con-
versed tOrday with a man who is not only a great
general^ but of himself capable of every thing, and
who knows every thing. He wants no councillors,
no assistance ; politics, laws, the art of governing,
are as familiar to him as the manner of command-
ing an army. He is young and determined. The
republic is finished." ^ But,' cried the republicans,
* if he becomes a tyrant, il faut de poignard de
Brutus, ^c* * HdlaSy mes amis, alors nous tombe-
rons dans les mains des Bourbons, ce qui est pire^
"Fouch^,** added he, "never was my confi-
dant. Never did he approach me without bend-
ing to the ground. For him, I never had esteem.
As a man who had been a terrorist, and a chief of
jacobins, I employed him as an instrument to dis-
cover, and get rid of the jacobins, Septembrizers,
and others of his old friends. By means of him
I was enabled to send into banishment to the
isle of France two hundred of his old associates,
Septembrizers, who disturbed the tranquillity of
Trance. He betrayed and sacrificed his old cama-
174 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLENA.
rades and participators in crime. He never was
in a situation to demand my confidence, or even
to speak to me without being questioned^ nor had
he the talents requisite for it. Not so Talleyrand
Talleyrand really possessed my confidence for a
long time^ and was frequently acquainted with
my projects a year or two before I put them into
execution. Talleyrand is a man of great talent^
although wicked^ unprincipled^ and so covetous of
money as not to care by what means he obtains
it. His rapacity was so great^ that I was obliged,
after having in vain warned him several times, to
dismiss him from his employments. Sieyes also
possessed my confidence, and was a man of great
talent, but, unlike Talleyrand, Sieyes was an up-
right man. He loves money, but he will not ob-
tain it otherwise than by legitimate means ; unlike
the other, who will grasp at it in any form.***
26<A. — The following observations upon our
embassy to China were delivered by Napoleon.
'^ It appears, that your ambassador. Lord Ma-
cartney, was obliged in 1793 to submit to the
Jco-tou, without doing which he would not have
been received. Your ministers, who must have
foreseen this, and in fact, who did foresee dif-
ficulty in etiquette, had in sending out Lord
* The following strongs although erpreniye opinion of Talley-
rand, has heen delivered by a celebrated lady ; CmI de U mtrde dciu
A yOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 175
Amherst^ authorized him to comply with it ; and
it appears^ that his private opinion was^ that he
ought to perform it^ and that in refusings he suf-
fered himself to be guided by bad advisers.
^ It is an error, but still one which is very ge-
nerally believed, that an ambassador represents
the sovereign. An ambassador, however, does
not represent his sovereign, as in fact none of the
stipulations of affairs which he signs are valid
until after a ratification ; and as to his rank in
etiquette, there never has been an example of so-
vereigns having treated them as equals, never hav-
ing returned their visits ; never having given way
for them, nor treated them as they would have
treated a foreign sovereign. The false idea that
ambassadors represented the sovereign is a tradi-
tion of the feodal customs. According to which,
at the rendering of homage, when a great vassal
was prevented from tendering it in person, he
caused himself to be represented by an ambas-
sador. In this case the ambassador really re
ceived the honours due to his master. The cha-
racter of an ambassador is of the same nature as
that of a minster plenipotentiary or an envoy,
^ith this diflference, that an ambassador is in the
-first degree; a minister, the second; and an envoy,
the third: and in negociations, these three have the
me rights ; whatever they stipulate or sign must
submitted for the ratification of their prince; but
176 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
in etiquette there is a great difference; the ambas*
sador in precedency ought to be treated like the
first lord in the country, like princes or dukeSi
and ministers of state. The minister plenipoteiK
tiary like nobles of the second rank in precedency
at court, and envoys like those of the third. As
to charge d'affairs, they are not accredited with
the sovereign, but with the minister.
^^ The English and Russian ambassadors had a
right to the same distinctions, and ought to have
followed the same etiquette as was practised by
the princes and the chief mandarins. Now, these
last performed the ho-tou^ and therefore the am-
bassadors ought to have done the same ; and the
emperor of China had a right to require it. It has
been said, that a French captain named Rock, who
had been in China during the reign of Louis XIV.,
had refused to perform the ko-tou. But it must be
considered, that this officer was not an ambassa-
dor, nor a minister plenipotentiary, nor an envoy,
and he was at liberty to act as he pleased, equally
as the Chinese government was at liberty to consi-
der him as being of more or less importance. But
a man charged with a diplomatic mission ought to
have performed the ko-tou ; and could not refuse
it without being wanting in respect to the emperor^
in the same manner as this last could not refuse
to receive him, without shewing disrespect to bis
character of ambassador."*
A TOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 177
^Lord Macartney^ and it appears Lord Am<
herst^ thought of divers expedients, which had
been also tried by the Russian minister. They
proposed that a mandarin of equal rank to the
ambassador should perform the ho-tou before the
picture of the king of England, oi that by a pub-
lic declaration the Chinese monarch should pi*a-
mise^ that if he sent an ambassador to England,
he should perform the ho-tou. The Chinese re-
jected these proposals, and with good reason. If
a Chinese ambassador were received in London^
he would have no right to perform the ho-tou ;
but he ought to follow the same etiquette in the
presence of the King of England as that observed
by the princes, the ministers of state, and the
knights of the garter, when they are admitted be-
fore the throne, which would be the English ko-
tou. These proposals were therefore unreason-
able, as the principle we have advanced naturally
evinces. A third suggestion was made, which was,
not to perform the ho-tou^ but to follow exactly
the etiquette of England, which is, to place one
knee upon the ground close to the throne, in pre-
senting the credentials. It certainly is an extra-
ordinary presumption for you to attempt to regu-
late the etiquette of the palace of Pekin by that
of St. James's ; the simple principle which has
been laid down, that in negociations as well as in
VOL. II. 2 A
178 A VOICB FROM ST. HELBNJU
etiquette^ the ambassador does not represent the
sovereign^ and has only a right to experience the
same treatment as the highest grandee of the plac^
clears up the whole of the question, and removes
every difficulty."
'^ Only one reasonable objection presents itself
to the mind^ to wit^ that the ko-tou is a religions
act^ that such religious act has something idola-
trous in it, and is consequently contrary td the
principles of Christianity. The mandarins per-
fectly comprehended the force of this objection,
and repelled the idea, by declaring in an official
manner, that the ko-tou was not a religious act,
but simply a law of etiquette, which ongbt to
have removed every scruple. Russia and England
should instruct their ambassadors to submit to the
ho-touy upon the sole condition that the Chinese
ambassador should submit in London and Peters-
burg to such forms of etiquette as are practised
by the princes and grandees.**
"Your embassy cost you some hundred thou-
sand pounds, which have been thrown away, and
in place of being the means of approximation^ will
be a foundation for separation and of ill blood be-
tween the Chinese and you, and all this by a ridi-
culous misunderstanding. In paying respect to
the customs of a country, you make those of
your own more sacred ; and every homage which
is rendered to a great foreign sovereign in the
A YOICS FROM ST. HELENA. 179
forms which are in use in his own country^ is be-
coming and honourable. Besides^ had not your
nunisters an example of it in what^ has always
taken place with the Porte, which has constantly
obliged aU ambassadors to submit to the etiquette
in use there } llie ambassador is not admitted to
the feet of the sublime sultan, unless he is clothed
in a caftan, and is obliged to perform such cere-
monies as the civilization of the Porte, and its
greater or lesser degree of power, lave prescribed
nnd changed ; but which still preserve traces of
their original character. Is there any great diffe-
rence between prostrating one*s self, in order to
perform the ko^tou^ and kissing the dust at the
feet of the sultan ? You say that you might awe
them by means of a maritime armament, and thus
force the mandarins to submit to the European eti-
quette, 'Hiis idea is madness. You would be
very badly advised indeed, if you were to call to
^rms a nation of two hundred millions of inhabit-
ants, and compel them in their own defence to
build ships against yours. Every sensible man in
your country therefore can consider the refusal to
perform the ko-tou no otherwise than as unjusti-
fiable, and unfortunate in its consequences.**
Sqftemier 1st. — ^Yesterday the Maria transport
o. rri ved from the Cape, with mails. A letter from
^oung Las Cases was sent to Madame Bertrand,
stating that they had at length obtained permission
180 A VOICE FROM ST. HfiLBNA*
to quit the Cape« and were on the point of em-
barking on board of a bri^ for England, but were
ignorant if permission to land would be granted
them ; that his father was very unwell^ and ex-
pressed his fears that he would fall a victim to has
complaints before he arrived, as there was no me-
dical person in the brig. He added, that no letter
had been received from Longwood since his father
and himself had arrived at the Cape. A letter
also arrived to Count Bertrand from Messrs.
Baring, Brothers, and Co., of London informing
him, that two years ago the sum of 12fiOOL had
been deposited in their hands for his use.
Napoleon has been in good spirits for several
days, and has taken rather more exercise than
formerly. On the 30th, he went to the sentry-box
on the left of the house, where be remained for
some time looking at the progress which had been
made in a new road, greatly to the surprise of the
sentinel, who stood gazing at him at the distance
of a few yards.
In one of the Cape newspapers which I received
there was an article, stating that his sister Caroline
had married a certain Greneral Macdonald. Upon
this Napoleon remarked, that after the recent as*
sassination of her husband, he did not think it
possible that his sister would marry ; especially ia
so public a manner, unless she were mad, or had
been forced to it with a pistol at her throat ^ espe^
A TOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 181
ciaily,'* said he, " when I consider that ray sister
is a woman arrived at an age when her passions
are no longer hrulantes; that she has four children,
and is possessed of a strong, masculine under-
standing, and talents superior to the generality of
her sex. However,'' continued Napoleon, "there
is no accounting for the actions of a woman."
He then made some remarks upon a diatribe,
wUch had been published about him in the Cou-
rier, and observed, that now scurrility and ob-
loquy would rather serve than hurt him. That
those attempts to jlitrir son caractere would now
be unav^ing, in consequence of the free eommu-
Dication of the English with France. "The vast
Humber of English," said he, "who have had
access to the continent, will long ago have disco-
vered and publislied that I am not that monster I
have been described in the English and French
labels. They have found out their mistake, and
will blush at the idea of having been so grossly
deceived. I would desire no better vindication
of my character than their opinion. The time for
libels against me is past. A moderate criticism
upon my actions, well managed, well written, and
not too highly exaggerated, would be infinitely
more injurious to me than all the furious diatribes
in the Quarterly review style-"
Some extracts of a pamphlet said to have been
(uiblished by the Duke of Rovigo upon the death
182 A VOICB mOM ST. RB1«KNA.
of Caption Wright^ now attracted bis absenratioo.
*^ If,** sold be, " Wrigbt was put to deatb^ it must
have been by my authority. The Duke de Rovigo
mistakes, in throwing out insinuations against
Fouch^. If he was put to death in prison^ I or-
dered it. Fouch^, if even so inctined> never
would have dared to do it. He knew me too welL
But the fact is, tliat Wright killed himself and I
do not believe that he was even personally ill^
treated in pi*ison. That Faucb6 may have threat-
ened him> with a view of extracting dk^overies is
possible. Sydney Smith has acted in a manner
unworthy of himself, and unworthy of a man of
honour, in the epitaph which he wrote upon
Wright. For in it, he throws out insinuations, or
at 91st leaves room to suppose, tliat he was se«
cretly despatched, although he does not dare to
say it openly. After having made every search and
inquiry in his power,, after having exhausted all
his means in endeavouring to prove that be was
murdered, after having had an opportunity of ex-
amining the gaolers and turnkeys, and finding that
nothing of the kind had happened, he ought, like
a man of honour, to have openly declared^ ^ that
there was no proof to admit of such an accusar-
tion,* instead of making insinuations, especially
when bis old enemy, against whom he had sa
often fought, was in the hands of his countrymen.
Sydney Smith, above all men knew,, from having
A VQICS FROM ST. HELENA. 183
been so long in the Temple, that it was impossible
to have assassinated a prisoner^ without the know-
ledge of such a number of persons as would have
rendered concealment impossible ; and also must
have been aware that nobody could have entered
the prison unless by an order from the minister of
police.**
^ Nevertheless," added he, " Sydney Smith dis-
played great honour in informing Klebcr of the
refusal of Lord Keith to consent to the conven-
tion of El-Arish. Had he delayed it for twenty-
four hours longer, Kleber would have evacuated
the forts to the Turks, and would have been
obliged to surrender to the English. He treated
the French prisoners of war very well. Un intri-
gant. He, however, committed gross faults, in
not having confined himself to operations purely
naval ; except in the instance of Acre, where he
acted perfectly right, in sending men and officers
to assist the Turks. He neglected cutting off
communications by sea, which he might have done
had be attended more closely to his squadron.
By this oversight he allowed me to escape. At
Acre, he caused his ships to fire broadsides at my
troops at such a distance as to be harmless ; in-
deed, on the contrary, it rendered us essential
service, as there was a scarcity of shot, and every
soldier who picked up one of the English balls
received five sous. However, notwithstanding,**
184 A VOICE FROM ST. UBLBNA.
continued Napoleon, ^^ that Sydney Smith has ill-
treated me, I should still have a pleasure in seeiug*
him. I should like to receive ce gaiUard Id. He
has certain good qualities, and as an old enemy,
I should like to see him."
" Have you ever heard,** said he, ** that Lord
Wellington was the person who first proposed to
send me to St. Helena?'** I replied, that I had
heard so, but did not pve the report any credit.
" If it be true,** said he, " it will reflect but little
honour upon him in the eyes of posterity.**
2,nd. — ^Went to Plantation House according to
Sir Hudson Lowe's direction. After acquainting
him with Napoleon's state of health I proceeded
to ask him, by General Bertrand*s desire, informa*
tion respecting the measures necessary to be taken
towards obtaining a certificate of life for Countess
* It is said that the Duke of Wellington returned to England
from India in a frigate commanded by Captain^ (now Sir George)
Cockburn^ and remained at St. Helena for some days during which
time he narrowly escaped death by drownings having been upaet
in a boat in one of the squalls so prevalent at that anchorage ; ^ly*
that when Napoleon was at Elba, his g^race suggested to the ooii«
gross, that he should be removed from thence to St Helexia, uigi^g
the latter place to be the best adapted for his perpetual imprison-
ment^ from his own local knowledge. I merely give this report
as an on dit, though 1 know that it is believed by many. If true,
however, perhaps the duke may esteem it to be one of his moei
brilliant achievements, and only surpassed by the manifestation of
generosity and humanity he displayed in the fate of his old
gooisi Ney.
A YOICB FBOH 8T. HSLBNA. 185
Bertrand, and a power of attorney for the Count,
and begged to know whether Mr. Brooke^ (the
secretary to the council^) was not the person who
performed the duties of i;otary public. Sir Hudson
Lowe replied roughly, ''Let Count Bertrand ask
Captain Blakeney.** So.n afterwards, however,
he said, that he would not let me return without
an answer, and desired me to say that there was
no public notary on the island ; that Mr. Brooke
was not vested with powers sufficient to allow
him to take such a deposition ; that to legalize acts,
they must be signed by him as chief magistrate of
the island. He then asked what motives could
Coant Bertrand have, in wishing to perform it be-
fiwe Mr. Brooke? Why not have asked me, as
chief magistrate ?** I replied, that one of Count
Bertrand^s motives was to spare to Madame Ber-
trand the inconvenience and trouble of going five
miles distance from Longwood, in the bad wea-
ther which prevailed, especially as she was suck-
ling an infant, and in an extremely delicate state
of health. That Count Bertrand, in the supposi-
tion that Mr. Brooke performed the duties of notary
public, had desired me to inquire, and if so, to
ask permission for him to come to Longwood.
" Those are not his motives, sir,** said Sir Hudson
Lowe, "he wants to get the Marquis Montchenu
to Longwood, in order to have an opportunity of
conversing with him, before Mr. Brooke, who does
VOL. II. 2 b
186 A VOICB FUOM 8T. HBLBNA.
not onderstand French. Do yon not think, m
that that is their motive ?** I replied, that it had
never occurred to me that such was their inten-
tion or motive. ^'Tben it does yon but little
credit^ sir. You are very sharp at finding oat
and observing every thing to their advantage ;** and
added^ that I was an instrument in their hands.
I observed to his excellency, that if asking for in-
formation from himself, constituted me an instro*
ment, I must plead guilty. That I was at a loss
to conceive why they should have recourse to so
much trouble, to have a conversation with Mar-
quis Montchenu in Longwood, when they had
frequently met and conversed, for a long time^
with all the commissioners outside of it, as he
must well know, without any British officers bdng
present. His excellency said, very gruffly, that the
less communication I had with them, (the French,)
unless on professional subjects, the better. Aft^
repeating his insinuations, and sarcastically ex*
pressing his surprise that I should not have dis*
covered their real motive, (which I could have
told him, was solely the invincible repugnance
every body at Longwood had to his presence) h0
asked if I had any thing to communicate from Ge«
neral Bonaparte ? I replied in the negative. He
then asked how many conversations with him -I
had had, and for how long? I replied, that I did
not recollect how many, or how long. They might
liaye lasted <for ma bpur^ perhaps longer; and took
my departore.
3r<f.— Found the emperor in the drawing-room^
reading alond the Old Testament, In very good
spirits. Told me that he had seen Mr. Cole
at Madame Montholon*s a few days since^ and
had taken him for a Jew. ^' I asked Madame
Montholon,"* said he ^^ what Jew is that ? Vraie^
ment il a Vair d' Isaac. H appartient A la/amilk
i^Abraham!!'
Napoleon then made some observations upon,
the' formalities which the governor obliged Ber*
trand to go through^ in order to get the bills
which Las Cases had left upon London cashed,
and the examination which every little bill, ac-
count, and receipt, went through. '^ Even the bilk
and salaries of the servants,** said he, '^are mi-
nutely examined, and every trifling sum obliged
to be accounted for. Useless vexations ; as every
man of sense must know, that it would not be by
means of any small sum that I could get here, that I
could escape ; and that although I have no money
here, I have it at the extremity of my fingers. But
this man, ha la rahhia di mischiarsi di tutto* If
he had his will, he would order me to breakfast at
a certain hour, dine at another, go to bed at a time
prescribed by him, and come, himself, to see it
carried into execution. All will fall upon him*
* Haa the ra^ to meddle in every thing*
188 A yoiCB FROM n. rilbnaI
•
self one day. He does not know tbat what passes
here^ will be recorded in history^ ed i cost imbedUe
che non sa che li ministri non hanno mai torto^
(meaning, he is imbecile enough not to feel that
ministers never acknowledge themselves to be in
error). He sent a letter to Bertrand, in reply to
the one written by him about the new restric-
tions, which convinces me more than any thing
he has ever yet done, that he is un imhecille che
non ha senso commune. If I had paid him for it,
he could not have made a communication which
would have pleased me more. There was nothing
else wanting to verify and authenticate the tyranny
under which I labour. H avoue des choses atroces.
He says that he has authority to rip up the cover
of a book, or to examine any piece of furniture in
such a manner as to render it unserviceable either
for ornament or utility, to search for letters. Next
to his restrictions, I hold this letter precious.*
By his reasoning, he ought not to send up a loaf
of bread, or a joint of meat, or a pair of shoes, as
letters might be concealed in them, and frequently
have been in the soles of the latter. What I said
in ridicule of Liord Bathurst*s speech, he writes
in earnest to us. Nothing but the publication of
that letter is wanting to convince the ministers
that he is an imbecile. Ah, if I had had only to
do. with such as him, I should not be here. Ah !
poor country, that is obliged to employ such a9
* This letter wm be faand in the Appendix;, No. X.
▲ VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 189
bim. If I were at the head of the government, I
should estimate his service to be worth an employ-
ment of 150/. a year.
He then made some observations upon a pro-
ject mentioned in some papers to be contemplated^
by ministers, to lend two millions for the use of
the poor, which he pronounced to be absurd.
" England to recover herself must renew her com-
merce ; in a few words, she must no longer be
a continental power. She must proceed in her
proper sphere, as an insular power, possessing the
command of the sea. You must not continue to
be all gentlemen^ said he, '^ as Lord Castlereagh
wishes. You must return to your ships. You
want old Lord Chatham for a prime minister.
You require able men. My opinion is, that if
something be not soon done, you will be obliged
to act as I did in Holland — reduce the interest of
the funds to two per cent. So well assured and
convinced am I that there will be a bankruptcy,
more or less serious, that I would not place money
in the English funds. This distress of yours is one
of the consequences of the holy alliance. All the
continental powers will endeavour to bridle fro/-
frenare) you, and unite against you as they have
done against me, when I was more powerful than
all of them put together. The only way to prevent
it is by placing yourselves in such a situation as to
command respect^ and to make them court you^
190 A VOICB FROM ST. HELBNA.
instead of you courting them ; which can never be
the case as long as you have an army on the con*
tinent. As long as your ministers say^ John Bull
is not sick^ so long will things go wrong. As soon
as they come forward and say, * Certainly there
is deep distress. There wants a radical change.
We have had great successes, which we have
ahused, and of which we have not availed our-
selves/ then there will be some hope. But the
manner in which they now act, is like a physician
telling me when I feel myself very ill and my 1^
swelling, that there is nothing the matter with me;
or like one replying to John Bull, when he com'
plains that he has nothing to eat. ' Oh, you have
too good an appetite. You must not indulge it.
Repletion is a bad thing.*
" Cipriani informs me,** said he, ** that the gover*
nor took great pains to make him comprehend that
the Burgundy sent here some time back came
from him. I ordered him never to bring me any
more of it. I do not blush to drink the wine or
cat the bread of John Bull, mais je ne veux rien
prendre des mains qui me sont devenues si odieuses
(but I will accept nothing from hands that are
become so odious to me).
He observed that he had contracted a catarrh
by having sat for a quarter of an hour yester-
day on the steps in front of the billiard room,
and had been sneezing and coughing all the even*
A TOICB raOM n. BSUBNA. 191
iiigi Made tome remarks on the iempacch, and
'tbld me that since brealdast yesterday he had
eateai iidthmg until the same meal this day.
He said that Count Moutholon had met Ma-
dame Stunner, and found that she was not so
handsome as Betsy (Miss E. Balcombe) ; that she
had la iaumure d'un grUette.
He afterwards made some observations upon
lUleyrand ' ^ Talleyrand,** said he, '* maintained
to me that assassination was s6metiknes justifiable,
or at least that if ought to be winked at, and al-
lowed to remain unpunished. He urged that such
a prance was common to all revolutions or grand
crises. That in revolutions, there were certain
flmlts which the tribunals ought not to notice, and
added^ that if it had not been for la kmteme of the
constituent assembly, the revolution would not
have succeeded. That some evils ought to be
tolerated, because they prevented others that were
greater.
4th. — The weather has been extremely wet for
several days, and Napoleon ordered that a fire
should be kept in the four rooms which he is
accustomed to use himself. As he cannot bear
the smell of coals, there was consequently a
great deficiency of wood. Found Novarre break*
ing up a bedstead and some shelves to bum.
Cipriani applied to Captain Blakeney to send
a letter to the purveyors requesting thai they
19(2 A VOICB FROM 8T. HBLBNA.
would send np three thousand weight oT wood, t6
be paid for by themselves, as the governor would
not allow more than three hundred weight daSfy,
-being about a third of what was wanting, in con-
sequence of the great humidity of Longwood.
Saw Napoleon at breakfast in his bath. Ex-
pected to have found him discontented on aocoont
of the occurrences of the morning, but he was in
a very good humour. He was eating some len-
tils, of which he asked the English name, and if I
had ever seen any before. I replied that I had seen
some in Egypt, but none in England. ^^ Tliat ardi
libeller. Fillet,** said he, laughing, ^'asserts that
you have none in England, and, in fact, that yon
have no good vegetables (Ugumes)^ I replied that
it was equally true with the rest of Pillet*s false-
hoods. That in no country in Europe were there
better vegetables or a more plentiful supply. Na>
poleon laughed at the warmth with which I ex-
pressed myself, and said, ^* Oh, that atrocious li-
beller. Fillet. You English do not like to hear any
thing bad of your own country, although yon
are so fond of abusing other nations. I fancy that
if Fillet had gone to England after the publication
of that book, he would have had his brains beaten
out by you." I said that he would certainly have
been treated with the contempt which he deserved.
Napoleon then remarked, that the northern people
required the bottle to develope their ideas ; that die
▲ VOICB FROU ST. .HEI.CNA. 193
English appeared in general to prefer tlie bottle to
the ladies^ as was exemplified by our allowing them
to go away from table, and remaining for hours to
drink and intoxicate ourselves. I replied, that al-
though we did sit sometimes for hours after the
ladies withdrew, it was more for the sake of con-
Tersation than for wine, of which last there was not
80 much drunk as formerly; that moreover it was
optional to retire immediately after the ladies or
to remain. He appeared to doubt this, and made
me repeat it. After which he said, that were he
in England, he would always leave with the la-
dies. It appears to me,** said he, '^ that you
do not pay regard enough to the ladies. If your
object is to converse instead of to drink, why not
allow them to be present. Surely conversation is
never so lively or so witty as when ladies take a
part in it. If I were an Englishwoman, I should
fed very discontented at being turned out by the
men to wait for two or three hours while they
^ere guzzling their wine. Now in France society
is nothing unless ladies are present. They are
-the life of conversation.**
I endeavoured to make it appear that our coi>-
^wersation after dinner frequently turned upon po-
litics and other matters, with which ladies seldcan
xneddled ; moreover, that in well-regulated soci-
eties, the gentlemen soon followed them. This did
not, however, satisfy him. He maintainjed that it
VOL. II. 2 c
194 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
was a custom which could not be j ustified^ that
women were necessary to civilize and to soften
the other sex.
He spoke about Mardchal Jourdan, of whose
military talents he had a poor opinion. I ob«
served that I had been told by some English offi-
cers who had been present at the battle of Albuera,
that if Mardchal Soult had advanced after the at-
tack made by the lancers, he would have cut the
English army to pieces. Napoleon acquiesced in
this, and said that he had censured Soult for
having neglected to do so. He then adverted to
the English mode of besieging towns, and said
that Lord Wellington, at sieges, was le bourreau
dcs hommes ; that the immense sacrifice of men at
Ciudad Rodrigo, and Badajoz was by no means
compensated by the capture of those places. He
observed that the storming of Bergen-op-Zoom
was a most daring attempt, but that it ought not|
or could not have succeeded, the number of the
garrison being greater than that of the assailants.
I observed that the failure was in part to be attri-
buted to one of the generals not having taken the
precaution to communicate the orders which had
been given to him to any one else ; so that when
he was killed or mortally wounded, the troops
did not know how to act. Napoleon replied^
that even if no accident of the kind had occarred^
the attempt ought not to have succeeded^ unless
▲ VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 195
the party attacked became^ as sometimes happen-
ed, panic struck. Graham he observed had been
commissary with the army at the time of his first
career of arms at Toulon, " A daring old man,**
said he, and asked if he were not the same who
had commanded in the affair near Cadiz.
5th. — ^Had some conversation in the morning
with Napoleon relative to the deficiency of fuel at
Longwood, and with General Montholon on the
same subject.
Went to Plantation House by order of Sir Hud-
son Lowe, to whom I communicated the parti-
culars of the deficiency of fuel, and the observa-
tions I had been desired to make upon the sub-
ject. Had a long discussion with his excellency,
and explained that there were twenty-three fires
in all at Longwood, which he thought much too
numerous. He answered in his accustomed man-
ner, "that they had no business with so many." I
explained to him that Longwood was very damp,
and that the French ladies and children required
constant fires. He said that ** Lady Lowe had no
fire in her room.** I observed that the French were
natives of a more southern climate than ours, and
consequently more susceptible of cold, and that
♦Here could be no comparison made between the
comfort of such a building as Plantation House,
and Longwood. His excellency said, that " he did
not see any necessity for so many fires, and that he
196 A VOICE FROM ST. HELE^fA•
had seen a fire burning in the Countess BertrancTfl
room in the middle of summer.** I told him I had
no observation to make upon that circumstance.
I observed that it was necessary to regulate the
quantity of wood by the seasons^ as what was too
much in summer was too little in winter, and ex-
plained to him that I had done every thing in my
power to explain to the French, that he thongfat
the allowance which he had ordered for Long-
wood was sufficient, as he had made it neariy
double of what was consumed at Plantation
House. I also told his excellency that Napoleon
could not bear the smell of coals ; and suggested,
that instead of sending wood to the soldiers in
camp, coals might be furnished, and the wood
sent to Longwood ; to which he replied, that ** he
did not like to humonr any person^s whims."
Saw Napoleon in his bath. After some con-
versation respecting the deficiency of fuel, he said
that he had seen Admiral Plampin, who had
brought him a book which he, (the admiral,) said
had been sent out by Lord Bathnrst, which, added
Napoleon, ^^ I suppose his lordship has sent ia
order to discover the author, as in the letter which
the admiral said he saw, it was attributed to Ben*
jamin Constant, or Madame de Stael.**
Napoleon then observed that he had spoken to
the admiral about ships of war, and their interior
economy. *^ The admiral says that a seventy-foar
A .twoft wmm n. hilbica. 197
gim. ddpcfWiU tadce about eighty tons more water
by mmm of thn tnnlrn Had I known this in 1806
or l(>n%ftimnlri have tent an army of thirty thou*
flBiuL'fliMtti^BD invade India. I had made sevend
oalcolirtini about the possibility of sending so
huge a body of men to India, but always found
tknt.thegr would have been short of water for a
imath I asked what his plan was ? ^In Brest,*
aMd.tbe emperor,^ I had at one time as many as
ifty^flx.sail of the line, and often forty-six. In
(Mfyt'Of these liae-of-battle ships, I intended to
have dispersed thirty thousand soldiers, eight
bnndrad in each, and only four hundred sailors.
There were to have been a proportionate number
oC fkigates, and other smaller vessels. Ten of the
Iia&4if4Miltle ships would have been old and of
little value. Hiey were also to take on board six
4v^dgbt hundred dismounted cavalry, and a por-
Ikat of artillery, with every thing necessary for an
anny to take the field, and be provisioned for four
months. Tbey were to make the best of their
way to the isle of France, where they would have
watered and provisioned afresh, landed their sick,
^tokd taken on board some other troops to replace
Clem, with three thousand blacks to form colo-
i^isil regiments. From thence they were to have
proceeded to India, and to have disembarked in
tbe nearest possible place, so as to have allowed
the Mahrattas, with whom I had an undenttand-
198 A VOICB FROM ST. HSIiBNA.
ing, to join them. They were to fiwin the Gavalry
of the army. A few of the French were also to
be mounted^ and all the horses they could pro-
cure purchased. After landings they were to
have burnt the ten old ships, and divided thdr
crews amongst thp rest, who would have been
thus full manned. They would then proceed in
different directions, and do you all possible mis-
chief in your settlements. I had," continued be,
^^an understanding with the Mahrattas and others,
in India, by the way of Bassorah, Bagdat, Mocba^
Surat ; their communications were made to the
consuls at Aleppo^ through the ambassdor in
Persia, &c. I had frequently earlier intelligence
from India tlian you had in England. The king
of Persia was favourably disposed towards us.
All this plan, however, was frustrated by the cal-
culations I had made, which shewed me that the
ships must fall short of water by a month. Had
I known of those tanks, I certainly would have
made the attempt.*'
Napoleon then calculated the number of tons
which would have been gained by the tanks, and
found that the ships would have had more than
sufficient water. " For a power which is inferior
by sea,** said he, ^^ it is an invention of great im*
portance, as it will prevent the necessity of their
going into harbour to water."
I mentioned Toussant Louverture, and oh-
▲ TOICA FBOM- 8T. HELKNA. 199
served, that amongst other calumnies, some of his
enenodea had asserted that he had caused him to
be pat to death privately in prison. ^ It does not
deserve au answer,^ replied Napoleon. '^What
possible interest could I have in putting a Negro
to death after he had arrived in France } Had he
died in SU Domingo, then indeed something might
have been suspected, but after he had safely ar-
rived in France, what object could have been in
view ?**
" One of the greatest follies I ever was guilty
of,* continued the emperor, '^was sending that
army out to St. Domingo. I ought to have pre-
vented the possibility of its being effected. I com-
sutted a great oversight and fault in not having
declared St. Domingo free, acknowledged the
black government, and before the peace of Amiens
sent some French officers to assist them. Had
I done this, it would have been more consonant
to the principles under which I was acting. It
'Would have done you incalculable mischief. You
would have lost Jamaica, and your other colonies
would have followed. Having once acknow-
tedged them, I could not have sent an army out
there during the peace. But after the peace, I
^as continually beset with applications from pro-
prietors of estates in the colony, merchants, and
others. Indeed, the nation had la rage to regain
St. Domingo, and I was obliged to comply with
200 A TOICB FAOM «T. HBUUfA.
it ; but had I previous to the peace, acknowledged
the blacks, I could under that ]dea have refosed
to make any attempts to retake it, in dmng whidu
I acted contrary to my own judgment.*
6th. — Informed Count Montholon, by directioa
of Sir Hudson Lowe, that the latter had regu-
lated the quantity of fuel necessary for Lcmgwood
by a comparison with that consumed at Planta-
tion House ; and thought, that by giving twice as
much coal as was used there, and three hundred
weight of wood, daily he had allowed a sufficiency.
That, however, if any application had been made,
he would have increased the quantity. I also
shewed him a letter from Major Gorrequer,
stating the quantity used at Plantation House.
Count Montholon replied, that they were not
bound to regulate the quantity of fuel they thought*
it necessary to bum at Longwood by that con-^
sunied by ISir Hudson Lowe at Plantation House,
where there were only four or five fire-places^ and
there were twenty-three at Longwood. That, more-
over, they were natives of a warmer and a drier cli-
mate than the English, and stood in need of more
heat ; that the dampness of Longwood rendered
fires absolutely necessary for the preservation of
their health. That both his own and the Coun-
tess's clothes were spoiled by the damp, in spite
of the fires which were used. As to asking for
more, he did not like to subject himself to slight*
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 201
ings or refusals. Napoleon for some days has
eaten no dinner. Told nie^ that he intended to
accustom himself to only one meal a day. Men-
tioned in the course of conversation^ that he once
bad it in contemplation to have sent five thousand
men to invade Surinam ; and asked me, (as I had
been there,) if I thought it would have succeeded ?
I replied, that I thought not. First, on account
of the difllcuUy of approaching the coast, as large
ships could not come nearer than seventeen or
dghteen miles, and the channel for vessels, (not
drawing more than eighteen feet water,) was only
practicable at high water, was very difficult, intri-
cate, and required the aid of a skilful pilot. Be-
sides, that the country itself was fiill of marshes
and very inaccessible. That there was a garrison
of three regiments, besides the colonial militia.
Fort Amsterdam was strong, and could for some
time sustain a regular siege.
The weather has not been so bad this day as for
some time past. Napoleon went out as far as
Count Bertrand's. ^' Veramente^ said he, yester-
day, when speaking of the weather, *^ non ^ paese
Cristianor
7th. — ^Napoleon complained of rheumatic pains
and slight head<ach, which he attributed, and with
reason, to the dampness of the climate and the
bouse. " Every evening," said he, *' when I leave
my little sitting-room, where there is a fire, and
V0L« II. 2 D
202 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
enter my sleeping-room,* where there is none, I
experience a sensation as if I were going into a
damp cellar. If it were not for the room that
Cockburn built, which is light, airy« and built of
dry wood, where I walk about and exercise, I
should have been under ground before now. But
that is I suppose what your oligarchy wants, and
is of a piece with their treatment of the prisoners
in the pontons^ an act the most cruel as well
as the most impolitic that was ever practised.
Nothing that your ministers ever did, enraged the
French and other nations against them so much as
their system of pontons. If humanity were out of
the question, good policy ought to have made
them treat prisoners well. It is incredible what
effect the good treatment of prisoners in France
had upon other nations, especially the Russians
and Germans. I often experienced it to my ad-
vantage, as thousands of them threw down their
arms, who otherwise would have fought despe-
rately, saying, "we will go into Bourgogne to
drink good wine."
I observed, that latterly in the prison-ships in
England there was less mortality than amongst
those confined in the dcp6ts on shore, which was
a proof that they were not ill treated, because sick-
ness and deaths always followed the ill treatment
of prisoners. Napoleon replied, "the most bar-
* Napoleon bad changed his bed-room some time befoiei
A r.VOICS : SWIM ST. > BS|«MA.- 2Q3
baroos and onnatural measure ever adopted by
on^e nation against another, was that of patting
poor wretches who were not brought up to the
sea on board of ships, there to remain ten or twelve
years without stirring out or walking upon the
grass, exposed to the stink of the mud at low
water, and huddled up as they were. It was a
crying injustice, and, one which, mark me, will
yet be revenged upon the English nation. Of the
prisoners in France, I, with their own consent,
formed battalions of pioneers, who laboured on
the fortresses and other public works, for which
they were paid a certain sum daily. Amongst
them, there were some English, Directly after-
wards, a letter was sent by order of the English
government, to know if it were true that English
men were made to work as pioneers, expressing
great anger, and desiring that it might be imme-
diately put a stop to. I ordered an answer to be
returned, stating, that an offer had been made to
all the prisoners in France, that a certain number
of them would be permitted to volunteer to work
as pioneers, for which they would receive so much
pay daily. That it was not made to the English
in particular. No force was employed, and
that, amongst others, some English had volun-
teered to work, for which they were paid ; that
I begged the English government would do
the same with any prisoners of mine who would
204 ▲ TOIGB FBOM ST. UBUOUU
volunteer. However, they woold not aDow die
Frenchmen to work ; I suppose yoor oligardqf
was afraid that they would dissemfaiate their prin«
dples of equality amongst the people of Rngfand.*
He then made some remarks upon the Manu- *
sent venu de S** H^^ne, and observed, that there
was such an ignorance of chronological events
displayed in it, such as putting the battle of Jraa
after Tilsit, and others of a similar nature, and so
many mistakes as to time and place, that it would
make a corporal in the old French army laugh.
** Notwithstanding this," added he, **it was writ-
ten by a man of esprit, though in several passages
he appears not to have had sens commun. In some
places, his assertion of the motives which actuated
me is correct. What he says on the subject of
my nobility is correct. What he says about my
intentions and wishes to do away with every thing
which had been established since Charlemagne, is
also right. That the nobility I formed was that
of the people is true, as I took the son of a
peasant, and made him a duke or a marshal when
I found that he had talents. That I wanted to
introduce a system of general equality is true,
and that every person should be eligible to every
situation, provided he had talents to fill it, what-
ever his birth might be. That I wanted to do
away with all the ancient prejudices of birth is
also correct. That I laboured to establish a govern-
▲ TOICB FROM 8T. HBLBNA. 205
ment of the people^ which although dur, was still
that of the people, is also true. That I ought to
have deposed for my own security, the house of
Brandenburgh, when I had it in my power, and
all the ancient orders of sovereigns ; and that they
almost always combined agmnst and attacked me,
is also right. Probably I ought to have done so,
and I should have succeeded. It is true that I
wished to establish a government of the people.
It is a work which will much displease the oli-
garchy, because they do not wish that any person
except one of themselves should be eligible for
any important situation. With their will, birth,
and not talents or capability, should regulate the
choice. A worse, a more despotic or unforgiving
government than an oligarchy never existed. Of-
fend them once you are never pardoned, and no
treatment can be too cruel for you when in their
power. The pamphlet is written with that light-
ness peculiar to Frenchmen, and consequently
contains many mistakes. The Edinburgh Review
will find out directly that I am not the author of it.
La Revue d'Edinhurg le coulera en bos. Tbey
will take it to pieces as I have done. The editors
of it will probably make similar remarks to those
in the notes* I made yesterday, probably not so
* Those notes were given hj Napoleon to me, and published in the
appendix to the ninth volume of the Memoin of Napoleon, diotated
VyhimseLt
206 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLSNA.
Strong, in consequence of not being so well ac-
quainted with the secrets as I am. I see by the
sketcli* they have published of my life, that they
take pains to ascertain the truth. Most of it is
true ; and it is difficult for me to imagine from
whence they had their information on some parts
of my early life, which were very little known to
any except my own family.**
" That work," continued he, " was not written
by Madame de Stael, or if it be, it was the work
of a few hours, and was sent to the press without
any correction. But there are in it f antes trop
grossidres for Madame de StSel. The sentiments
expressed in it are such as Madame de Stfid
would talk; and though new in England, were
for several years the subjects of discussion in
France.**
*^ The author,** continued he, ^ has made a great
mistake in saying, that after Jena, I never did any
thing worthy of my former actions. The greatest
military manoeuvres I ever made, and those for
which I give myself most credit, were performed
at Eckmiihl, and were infinitely superior to Ma-
rengo, or to any other of my actions. It is the
work of some young homme d^esprit, who has hur-
ried it to the press without having submitted it
* The sketch alluded to came from the daaaical pen of John Allen^
Esq. Napoleon had read it with great attention in my presence^ and
made some pencil marks upon particular passages.
A TOICB FROM 8T. 'B8JURNA.
to'tiie revinon of any of his friends. It is hoti^cvcr
composed with good intentions t6\rards me. If I
had written a work of the kind^ it would indeed
be different. Every line of it would be a subject
.of discussion for nations."*
** Freeing the work from its mistakes and er-
rors," added he, "it would be valuable. The
anthor says that there will be a revolution in Eu-
rope. That is not at all improbable. He says,
that it was perhaps nccessaiy to place a Bourbon
on the throne in 1814 ; but that it would have
been advisable to have left me after my return
from Elba. Perhaps he is right in both." He
added, that such a work, really written by him,
would make a great noise. " It will be, or per-
haps is written," added he, *'but it will be for
my son and for posterity."
*^It only rested with me," said he, "to have de-
posed both the King of Prussia and the Empe-
ror of Austria. When I was at Schoenbrunn," (I
think he said) "the Duke of Wurtsburgh fre-
quently insinuated to me that the only means to
secure the good faith of Austria would be to depose
^ his brother Francis, and place the crown on his
head. These offers were repeated to me afterwards
through a minister, with an offer of his son as
hostage, who should be placed as my aid-de-camp,
with every other possible guarantee. I reflected
upon it for some time ; but the marriage with
208 A TOIOB FROM 8T. HBUBMA.
Marie Loaise put a stop to any further conader-
ation on the subject I was wrong in not haying
accepted of it. Nothing would have been easier
to execute.**
I asked, if he believed it to have been written
by the Abb6 de Pradt. "No," replied the em-
peror, ^' I do not think that he is the author. De
Pradt,** continued he, *' may be said to be une
espdce dejille dejoie, qui prSte son corps to all the
world for payment. Once, when he was giving
vent to his customary bavardage and extravagant
projects in my presence, I contented myself with
humming a part of the air :
Ou courez vous donc^ monsieur YAhh6,
Vous allez vous casser le nez,
which disconcerted him so much, that he had not
another word to utter.**
Speaking about the badness of the house, and
the offer said to have been made by Sir Hudson
Lowe to build a new one. Napoleon observed, that
he had only refused the offer of making additions
to the present wretched old house of Longwood,
and the design to build another on that miser-
able situation. *'The governor,** said he, " asked
me if I had heard that wood had arrived to build
a new house, but that I must not believe that a
house had been sent out; that I might perhaps
have seen such an assertion in the papers; bat
that only materials had come out. I told him
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 209
that I did not believe what I saw in the papers ;
more especially any thing relating to myself. He
said^ that if I made choice of a spot to build a
bonse upon, I might have it ; but on condition
that it was approved of by him ; without which
I could not have it where I pleased. I was not
so silly as not to have known this before. He
then made an offer of building additions, but
with a very bad grace. I told him, that I did
not wish to subject myself to the inconvenience
of having workmen continually to annoy me with
their noise. That the English government ought
to provide me with a house already built, and not
one to be built. After this, he wrote a letter to
Montholon on the same subject, who replied by
my desire, that if he intended to build a new house
for us, let it be built in a place where there was
shade and water. Nothing could be more plain
than this. It is a fine prospect certainly that he
now holds out. With all the activity of Cockburn,
the construction of a new house would take three
years, and with this man, I dare say six ; and
that a house might be healthy, it ought not to be
inhabited for eigliteen months after being built. I
shall be dead long before that time. This I also
told him. Plantation House is the only one in
the island fit for me. The governor having a
house himself in town, could easily retire to it for
TOL. II. 2 E
A VOICE FKOM ST. HELENA.
I tDths, until improvements were made her^
aving the command of every tiling himself,
It being obliged to ask permission from any
be could soon render this habitable for some
n s in the year, which is all that it is adapted
r. ie could retire to town in the winter season."
poleon then said, that the English servants
le house had laughed at the French for eating
file, and asserted, that in England they fed
horses with what the French eat here. He laughed
very heartily while saying this: and at an anec-
dote which I related about Dr. Johnson, wlio I
informed him, had in the first edition of his Eng-
lish dictionary, defined oats to be " food for horses
in England, and for men in Scotland."
Count Montholon called Captain Blakeney*
and myself this day to look at the state of his
apartments. The rooms, especially the Countess's
bed-room, the children's room, and bath room,
were certainly in a shocking state, from the ex-
treme humidity of the place. The walls were
covered with green fur and mould; damp and cold
to the touch, notwithstanding the fires which were
constantly kept in them. I never saw a human
habitation in a more mouldy or humid state, in
which opinion the orderly officer agreed.
* Cnptain Blokeney had replaced CaptAin PoppletoD as orderly oOt-
ccr on the departure of Captain P. '9 regiment from St. Helens.
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 211
Stk.-^Saw Napoleon, who informed me that
after I had left him yesterday, he had found him-
self very unwell with headach and general pains
in his limbs ; and had taken a warm bath, which
bad been very beneficial to him.
He was in very good spirits, spoke for a long
time about the Manuscrit de S^ H&htie, and ob-
served, that it must have been written by a person
who had heard him reason, and was acquainted
with his ideas. He added, that he thought he
knew the author, whom he supposed to be a man
who had figured in the revolution, and now lived
retired.
He asked many questions about the number of
bottles of wine we drank at our party the night
before last* Blamed Mr. Boys's conduct, for hav-
ing' preached in allusion to the admiral.* Said
that a roan's conscience was not to be amenable to
any tribunal ; that no person ought to be account-
able to any earthly power for his religious opinions.
"** Had you not persecuted the Catholics in Ire-
land," added he, " in all probability the greatest
Clumber of them would before now have become
rotestants; but persecution strengthens them in
beir belief. Even Pitt himself was aware of the
* Mr. Boys kad thought it a duty to mention something from the
nlpit in censure of an official person, for having set an example of
'■nmorality to a small colony^ by publicly living with a woman not hia
aod for absenting himself from church.
212 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
necessity of giving the Catholics equal privQeges
with the Protestants."
9th. — Races at Deadwood. The commissioDers
all present. None of the French from Liongwood
attended, except the children and some of the do-
mestics.
During the interval between the heats. Sir Hud-
son Lowe sent for me, and asked if •^some of
General Bonaparte's horses were not on the race-
ground r I replied in the affirmative. His excel-
lency asked how they came there ? I replied,
that I had borrowed the horses from Greneral
Gourgaud, one of which I had lent to Miss Eliza
Balcombe, and the other to the surgeon of the
Conqueror. Sir Hudson immediately broke out
into not the most moderate expressions, and his
gestures attracted the attention of many of the
spectators. He characterised my having dared
to lend any of General Bonaparte's horses without
his (the governor's) pennission, to be the greatest
piece of presumption he had ever witnessed. I
observed, that I had come to St. Helena to learn
that it was a crime to borrow a horse for the use
of a young lady ; neither had I known that it was
necessary to go to Plantation House to ask per-
mission from him to borrow a horse belonging to
the Longwood establishment. Sir Hudson replied,
that '^ I had no business to form any opinion
about it."
This was eridently only a pretext to have ao
A TOICB FROM 8T. HELENA, 213
oppoftunity of venting his pitiful vengeance, as
not a week passed that horses were not sent down
to town, and frequently to Sir Thomas Readers,
Ibr Dr. Livingston and others to ride up to Long*
wood, without it having ever been signified that it
was necessary first to apply to Sir Hudson Lowe
for peraiissioa. Besides, Gen. Gourgaud always
directed that a horse should be in the stable at roy
command.
A little before the conclusion of the races, the
three commissioners, Mstdame Sturmer, and Cap-
tarn Gor, came in as far as the inner gate of Long-
wood, where they remained for some time, during
which the governor approached and looked in at
the outer gate. Siiortly afterwards. Count and
Countess Bertrand, Count and Countess Montho-
lon, and General Gourgaud, went out to walk,
and met the commissioners outside of the gate,
\^rith wlK)m they had a long conversation. They
afterwards proceeded together to Hut's Gate. It
was nearly dark before they returned.
Napoleon in high spirits; looked out of a win-
clow at the races, with which he was much pleased.
Told me that he had done every thing in his
power to establish the same in France.
l2tJi. — ^Went to Plantation House, in conse-
quence of orders communicated to me by Captain
Slakeney. After some conversation relative to the
late discussions respecting the quantity of fuel
allowed to Longwood, Sir Hudson Iiowe entered
214 A rOICB FROM ST. RBLBKA*.
again upon the heinous cnme I had been guilty of
in lending one of the horses of the Long^rood esta-
blishment to a young lady ; to which I replied as
I had done before^ which be said was quite in the
Longwood style. He then asked in an abrupt
manner if I had not received some books from Dr«
Warden ? I replied, that I had received seven or
eight monthly publications containing reviews
of his work. " Did you not receive one, sir,
with a view of Longwood ?"♦ I replied, yes. ^ It
is very extraordinary," said Sir Hudson, "that
you did not inform inc of it.** I replied, that I
was not bound to tell hi in of any or every book 1
received or puvcluised ; that I was in the habit oi
having books and pamphlets of various descrip-
tions from England, which I was not obliged to
give any account of. Sir Hudson said, that I
ought to have done so, and asked if I had lent
any of them to the French, or if they had seen
them. I replied, that to my knowledge the French
had not seen them ; that they were at present in
my inner apartment. He said, tliat ^ it was very
extraordinary I should have had those pamphlets
for two months, without being able to tell whether
the French had seen them ; and that I might have
books in my rooms, to be shewn to them, of a very
improper tendency, which they might read in my ab«
sence ;** and after harping for a long time on those
* A few days before, I hod lent this pamphlet to aa officer of
itaft
A TOIOB FROM ST* HELENA. fi|15
nnlucky piampblets, he said he supposed I had no
objectioii to lend them to him. I replied^ certainly
not ; that they should be sent to him on my i*e*
tnm. They consisted of the Monthly Review,
Gentleman's Magazine, Eclectic Review, British
Ladies* Magazine, European Magazine, and New
Monthly. His excellency then said, that Count
Las Cases had given a pretty strong hint in the
letter he had sent to Longwood from the Cape, that
he was in want of the money which he had lent
them, which it did not appear to be convenient for
ihem to understand. After which he made a long
and abusive harangue upon the " Character of
Bonaparte,"* extracted from the Quarterly Review,
which publication his excellency appeared to con-
sider as a sort of political gospel.
14th. — ^Napoleon in very good spirits. Asked
many questions about the horses that had won at
the races, and the manner in which we trained
them ; how much I had won or lost ; and about the
ladies, &c. " You had a large party yesterday,"
continued he. ^^ How many bottles of wine ? Drink,
your eyes look like drinh^^ which he expressed
in English. " Who dined with you ?** I men-
tioned Captain Wallis amongst others. ^'What,
is that the lieutenant who was with Wright?" 1
replied in the affirmative. ^^What does he say
about Wright's death ?" I said, ^^ He states his
belief that Wright was murdered by orders of
216 A VOICE FROM 8T. HBLBNA,
Fouch6^ for the purpose of ingratiating himself with
yon. That six or seven weeks previous, Wright
had told him that he expected to be murdered like
Pichegru^ and begged of him never to believe that
he would commit suicide ; that he had received a
letter from Wright, about four or five weeks before
his death, in which he stated that he was better
treated, allowed to subscribe to a library, and to
receive newspapers." Napoleon replied, "I will
never allow that Wright was put to death by
Fouch^s orders. If he was put to death privately
it must have been by my orders, aud not by those
of Fouchd. Fouch^ knew me too well. He
was aware that I would have had him hanged
directly if he attempted it. By this officers own
words, Wright was not au secret ^ as he says that
he saw him some weeks before his death, and that
he was allowed books and newspapers. Now
if it had been in contemplation to make away
with him, he would have been put au secret for
months before, in order that people might not be
accustomed to see him for some time previous, as
I thought this * * * intended to do in November
last. Why not examine the gaolers and turnkeys?
The Bourbons have every opportunity of proving
it, if such really took place. But your ministers
themselves do not believe it. The idea I have of
what was my opinion at that time about Wright, is
faint ; but as well as I can recollect, it was, that
A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA. 217
he ODght to have been brought before a military
commission for having landed spies and assassins^
and the sentence executed within forty-eight hours.
What dissuaded me from doing so^ I cannot
clearly recollect. Were I in France at this mo«
ment, and a similar occurrence took place, the
above would be my opinion, and I would write
to the English government, *Such an officer of
your s has been tried for landing brigands and as-
sassins on my territories. I have caused him to
be tried by a military commission. He has been
condemned to death. The sentence has been car^
ried into execution. If any of my officers in your
prisons have been guilty of the same, try and exe-
cute them. You have my full permission and ac-
quiescence. Or if you find hereafter any of my
officers landing assassins on your shores, shoot
them instantly.' This affair of Wright's,** added
he, ^^ made so little impression upon me, that when
Lord Ebrington spoke about it at Elba, I did not
recollect it. My mind was so much occupied
with grand objects, that I had little time to think
of a poor English captain. Had the Bourbons,
Moreau, or the Vendean chiefs been put to death,
then indeed I might have been suspected. I might
have tried and executed the Vendean chiefs for
having carried arms against the country. They
are all alive. My opinion is, if I had known
Wright had been one of Sydney Smith's officerSi
VOL. 11. 2 F
218 A VOfCB FROM 8T. RBLSNA.
•
and that he had fought against me at Acre^ I would
have sent for and questioned him about the siege
and released him. I recollect perfectly well see-
ing an officer wounded and carried off at Acre^
whose bravery I admired at the time. I think
that I should have released him^ if I had found
him to be that officer. It appears also that he
killed himself when he was upon the point of being
released^ as I see that the court of Spain had in-
terceded for him. When you first spoke to me
on the subject, I imagined that Wright had killed
himself purposely to avoid giving evidence against
your ministers ; and I attached a degree of heroism
to the act, which I gave him great credit for ; but
since I see that it was a long time after, and when
I was at Ulm, at the head of a hundred and fifty
thousand men, and three hundred leagues from
Paris. It requires but a trifling circumstance to
make you English kill yourselves."
Napoleon then rallied me upon my supposed
attention to Miss * ♦ *, and said, I ought to marry
her. I replied, that I was neither rich enough^
nor young enough, to have pretensions to so fine
a lady. He now recounted some of his own
love adventures. ''The most beautiful female I
ever saw,** said he, " was an Irish girl, Mademoi-
^ selle G**s; whether she had been bom in Ire-
land, or was only of an Irish family, I am not cer-
tain. It was during Josephine's time, and long be*
fa^l' oiayried JVIarieXoqise^ One day, when I was
buntiAg in St« Gennainsj some of the court in^
triguers threw her in my way, and contrived it. so^
that she came with a petition in her hand to deli-
ver to mcb When she presented herself, and said
she had a petition, every one made way for her, as
I had given orders that persons bringing petitions
should invariably be allowed to approach me.
She fell at my feet, and presented it. She was
covered with a veil, that did not conceal the
beauty of her countenance, which was really hea-
venly* Certidnly I was taken with her charms,
and although I suspected there was some intrigue^
I was not displeased. Three or four times after-
wards I saw and conversed with her. I used to
take little liberties with her, such as patting her
chedcs. At this time a letter from her mother to
her was brought to me from the secret post-office.
This mother was an old intriguer, and gave her
daughter directions which elucidated her charac-
ter. There were instructions relative to her con-
duct towards me in many particular instances.
I was now convinced that it was not proper for
me to countenance this proceeding, and although
I was assuredly smitten with her, for she was as
beautiful as an angel, I gave such orders as pre-
vented her ev r having the means of being again
admitted to my presence. Since that time, I have
been informed^ she really had a regard for me, and
220 ▲ TOICB FBOM 8T« HBIiBMA*
would have been faithful. She is now married to
M. ♦♦♦, a very rich man, but, still, I am led to
believe, preserves an affection for me.
** The evening before I left P^ris for Waterloo^*
continued Napoleon ; '^ a beautiful Englishwoman
came to the palace, and asked to see me. She saw
Marchand, who told her that it was impossible.
She said, she was an English lady, and a friend
of Mademoiselle G * * s, whom I well knew, and
that she was persuaded I would see her; that I
could not refuse to see a young lady who loved
me, and admired my character. Marchand told
her that I was to leave Paris the next momingi
and could not be disturbed. At hearing this, she
appeared to be much afflicted, and with some re*
luctance she went away. Perhaps she was some
beautiful intriguer, or one who had la tite mont^e,
for me. When once a woman has la tite mantle,
all the world will not prevent her from attempt-
ing to succeed in her designs. Soon after I had
taken Vienna, the Austrian Princess *** got her
head full of me, from hearing me so much talked
of. She was one of those princesses, of whom you
know there are so many in Germany. Nothing
would ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦.-!• For this purpose she came
to Schoenbrunn, and insisted upon seeing me.
f The following quotation from Douglas^ irill guffidently explala
the designs of this innamorata :
^Am ladiei wish to h%, who lore thdr lordSt'*
▲ TOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 221
'Murat, who was a fine handsome fellow, tried to
gain her affections, but she rejected him with dis-
dain. I ordered her to be admitted, and repre-
sented myself as Mardchal Duroc. She could
speak very little French or Italian, and I could
not converse in German. I told her not to speak
80 lond, as the emperor would hear her, and point-
ed out Duroc as emperor ; but she was not to be
deceived. She had seen me pass by a house where
she was, and cried, no, no, vous, vous empereur.
She was extremely handsome, and very candid in
her confessions.**
Napoleon then spoke about the assertion, said
to have been made by Lord Castlereagli, in the
House of Commons, respecting him ; viz. that he
had made out a list of the richest heiresses in
France whom he was in the habit of ordering to
marry such of his generals as he pleased. That
none of them could marry without his leave, and
were obliged to espouse any persons, to whom he
thought proper to give them. These assertions he
declared to be wholly false. " So far from being
true,* added Napoleon, ** it was not in my power
to get even Caulaincourt married to a lady to
whom I wished to see him united. She was
the daughter of ♦ ♦ *, who was president of the
chamber^ a banker, and enormously rich, which
he had chiefly acquired, it was supposed, by a
••♦♦♦♦♦♦. She was a beautiful girl, and he in-
222 A VOICB FROM VT. BMIMHA^
tended giving her a large portion. I asked fhe
father myself, as a favour, to give her in marriage
to Caulaincourt, but he gave me a positive refiiaL
At that time, Caulaincourt was one of my greatest
favourites. So much for Castlereagh^s veracity.**
19^^. — ^Went to Plantation House, in obedience
to directions received from Sir Hudson Lowe
through Captain Blakeney, desired also to take
with me a report of the state of health of Napoleon.
On my arrival, Sir Hudson Lowe asked for the
report, which stated, that with the exception of a
few slight catarrhal attacks, his health had been
tolerable. Sir Hudson Lowe asked if they had
been of any consequence, to which I answered in
the negative. The governor observed, that others
besides me, had made reports relative to General
Bonaparte's health. That Madame Bertrand had
told the commissioners that he was extremely
unwell ; that because they saw him standing in
the viranda, they must not believe that he was
in good health. I repeated, that he had suffisred
some indisposition, but not of a serious nature.
Sir Hudson Lowe then said, that he had heard
a great deal, though not all of the* conversation
wliich had passed between the French and the
commissioners, and that all of the former, except
one, had abused the opportunity. That every
time Count Bertrand had had an opportunity of
speaking to them, he had abused it ; that this last
A TOICS FROM ST. HXLSNA. 22S
was the only time that Montholon had had an
apportnnity of speakmg to them^ which he (Sir
Hudson) asserted, he had fully availed himself of
by cramming them with misrepresentations.
20th. — Saw Napoleon in his bath. At first he
was rather dull and out of spirits. Complained
of pain in the right cheek, shooting from the dis-
eased tooth. Gums spongy, and bled upon the
slightest touch. Ankles and legs a little swelled.
Great want of sleep at night. Explained to me
several reasons which convinced me that Corvisart
had been right in prescribing to him exercise on
horseback, which I strongly recommended myself,
and in as forcible a manner as possible. Napoleon
replied, that under the present restrictions, liable
to be insulted by a sentinel if he budged off the
road ; he could never stir out, neither did he think
that I myself, or any other Englishman placed in
his situation, would avail himself of the privilege
to ride, fettered with such restrictions. To this
observation of his, I made no reply, for if I had
expressed my real sentiments as a man, and not as
a surgeon, I must have said that I agreed with
him in opinion ; and contented myself with recom-
mending antiscorbutic vegetables, &c. ^^ Di quit
vn poco mm mi vedrete piic, Dottore; varrei che
'osse questa sera, una maniera rf'* ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ as certain,
T)ut more barbarous than the stiletto. Sento che
234 Ui VOICE FROM ST. HELBNA«
la macchlna sene va giomalmente. However that
is what he was sent for. In succeeding ages the
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ will pay for it. Sur le rocker le plus affreux
dans le monde, they send out a man to impose re-
strictions which never have been practised in the
revolutionary tribunals under Marat. Even there,
the condemned, while permitted to live, were al-
lowed newspapers and books. They did not ex-
pire in agonies, protracted so long as to mak^ it
appear a natural death. That refinement of cruelty
was unknown to Billaud de Varennes, or Collet
d*Herbois.
** I ask you," continued Napoleon, *^ can you
lend me a newspaper or a book ? Can you even
lend me a work upon science ?**
Shortly afterwards he spoke about Catholic
emancipation, which if effected, he pronounced
would be of great benefit to the English on the
continent, and be a most wise and politic measure
for our ministers to adopt.
He then made some observations about Mr.
P e*s having sold his wife,* which he said
would reflect but little credit on the governor, and
that, had such a circumstance occurred in France^
the Procureur G6n^ral would have prosecuted
the offending parties. That it appeared to be a
most disgraceful circumstance, especially when,
* TUf dremnstance actually bippenad at St Helena.
A'¥OllS ^ROM ST. HBLliNA, 22S
08 it appenred to be, it had been sanctioned by
the two organs of communication of the governor,
civil and military.
Napoleon then observed that he was at a loss
to conceive from whence the Edinburgh Review
had obtained so much accurate information re-
specting him. ^ That circumstance,** said he, '^ of
the d^e&ni de trois amis^ I never told to any per-
son. It is true that I was the author, and that it
produced great effect in France, but I do not recol-
lect ever having disclosed it to any one. There are,
however, some mistakes in the Review. I never
knew Barras at Toulon. My first acquaintance
with him was at Paris, after the siege of Toulon.
^ My marriage with Marie Louise,** added Na-
poleon, '^ produced no change in me. I was pre-
cisely the same as before. Never was woman
more astonished than Marie Louise was after her
marriage, when she observed the few precautions
that I took to insure my safety against any at-
tempts upon my life. When she perceived that
there were no sentinels except at the outer gates
of the palace ; that there were no lords sleeping
before the doors of the apartments ; that the doors
Mrere not even locked, and that there were no guns
Or pistols in the rooms where we slept, * Why,'
^^id she with astonishment, 'you do not take
l^alf so many precautions as my father, who has
lixothing to fear.* I am,** continued Napoleon^
▼OL. II. 2 a
226 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA.
too much of a fatalist^ (trop /ataUsteJ to take
any precautions against assassination. When I
was in Paris^ I used to go out and intermingle
with the populace without my guards^ receive
their petitions, and was frequently surrounded by
them so closely that I could not move."*
I inquired of the emperor in what engagement
or engagements he considered himself to have been
in the greatest danger r He replied, " In the com-
mencement of my campaigns. At Toulon, and
particularly at Areola. At Areola, my horse was
shot under me; rendered furious by the wound,
the animal seized the bit between his teeth, and
galloped on towards the enemy. In the agonies
of death, he plunged into a morass and expired,
leaving me nearly up to my neck in the swamp,
and in a situation from which I could not extri-
cate myself. I thought at one moment that the
Austrians would have come and cut off my bead
which was just above the surface of the morasSi
and which they could have done without my hav-
ing been able to offer the least resistance. However,
the difficulty of getting at me, and the approach of
my soldiers, who rescued me, prevented them."
I asked if he had not been frequently slightly
wounded? He replied, *^ several times, but scarce-
ly more than once had I occasion for surgical as-
sistance, or any fever in consequence of a wound.
At Marengo a cannon-shot took away a piece of
the boot of my left leg, and a little of the skin/
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 227
said he shewing the mark to me^ ^^ but I used no
other application to it than a piece of linen dipped
in salt and water.** I asked about a wound of
which there was a deep mark in the inside of the
left thigh, a little above the knee. He said, that it
was from a bayonet. I asked if he had not had horses
frequently killed under him, to which he answered,
dghteen or nineteen in the course of his life.
*^The regiment de la Ffere," said Napoleon,
^ in which I commenced my career, behaved so
badly to the inhabitants of Turin, that I was ob-
liged to reduce them. I accordingly had them
marched to Paris, assembled on the parade, or-
dered the colours to be taken from them by some
colonels, and lodged in the church of,** (the In-
valids, I think he said,) " covered with mourning*
I divided the officers who had not behaved so
badly as the principal actors, amongst other regi-
ments. Some months afterwards, I formed the
regiment again under different officers, and the
Colours were taken from the church with great
f^omp by a number of colonels, each tearing a
iece ofl^ which they burnt, and new ones were
iven in their stead.'*
"When I was about seventeen years of age,"
s iiiid he, *^ I narrowly escaped being drowned in
- tie Sadne. While swimming, cramp seized me,
^:nd after several ineflFectual struggles, I sank. I
^:34perienced at that moment all the sensations of
228 A TOICE FROM 8T HBUTKA.
dying, and lost all recollection. However^ after
I had sunk, the current carried me upon a bank
of sand, on the edge of which it threw me,
where I lay senseless for I know not how long,
and was restored to life by the aid of some of my
young companions, who by accident saw me lying
there. Previous to this, they had given me up for
lost, as they saw me sink, and the current of the
river had carried me to a considerable distance.*"
While looking over a number of papers (chieffy
Portsmouth), he observed an article stating that
*♦♦ had made large purchases in the north of
Ireland. "Ah," said Napoleon, "some of my
money has gone to pay for those estates. After
the abdication at Fontainbleau, upwards of forty
millions of francs, my private property, was seized,
and taken from my treasurer near Orleans.* Of
this money, about five and twenty millions were
divided amongst T***, M**, H**, and €♦♦♦.
The money thus seized included the marriage
portion of the empress Marie Louise, which bad
been paid in sovereigns of gold, an old German
coin. The remainder was placed in the French
treasury. The whole of these sums had been
guaranteed to me by the treaty of Fontainbleau.
* It was necessarj for me as narrator of Napoleon's eonveraatiooi^
to acquaint the public with the fact detailed by him of the seizure e#
his treasures ; but it is evident that the application of them^ a» !••
Isted bjr Mm^ eonld hare been oalj conjecture on his part
j^. ¥OICB FROM ST. H£LBNil. 229:
The share which C ♦ * ♦ obtained was very large^
and the exact amount of it is known to me.**
The talents requisite in a good general then
came under his observation. ''The mind of a
general ought to resemble and be as clear as
the field-glass of a telescope, et jamais se /aire
des tableaux. Of all the generals who preceded
him, and peiiiaps all those who have followed^
Turenne was the greatest. Mar^chal Saxe, a
mere general, pas d* esprit ; Luxembourg, heaur-
eaup ; le grand Fridericy beaucoup, and a quick
and ready perception of every thing. Your Marl-
borough, besides being a great general, avait aussi
beaiicoap d'espriL Judging from Wellington's ac-
tions, from his despatdies, and above all from his
conduct towards Nej', I should pronounce him to
be mn homme de peu d' esprit suns g^tidrosit^y et
sans grandeur d'dme. Such I know to be the opi-
nion of Benjamin Constant and of Madame de
Stael, who said, that except as a general, he had
not two ideas. As a general, however, to find his
equal amongst your own nation, you must go back
to the time of Marlborough, but as any thing else,
I think that history will pronounce him to be un
homme bomd.
2lst. — ^At about six minutes before ten o*cIock
at night, three distinct shocks of an earthquake
were felt at Longwood. The whole of the house
vas shaken with a rumbling, clattering noise at
230 A VOICE FROM 8T. HBLBNA.
firsts as if some heavy body^ like a loaded waggoi^
was dragged along the upper apartments, succeed*
ed by an evident tremulous motion of the gToand,
the glasses rattling on the table, and the pictures
receding from the walls. The duration of the
whole might have been from sixteen to twenty se-
conds, as Captain Blakeney and myself, who were
sitting together at the time that it occurred, bad
sufficient time from its commencement until it was
over to reason and reciprocally ask from what it
could proceed, before we guessed at the right
cause, which we discovered simultaneously before
it ceased. No mischief was done,* Generals Mon-
tholon, Gourgaud, all the household attendants
and English servants came out. No alarm ap-
peared to exist amongst them. General Montho-
lon informed me, that his son Tl-istan, who was
asleep, was awoke by the shock, and exclaimed
that somebody was endeavouring to throw him
out of the bed. General Gourgaud also felt three
distinct shocks. Upon inquiry being made of
some of the sentinels about the liouse, they replied^
that they had not experienced any thing extraor--
dinary. This may be accounted for by the feet
* Although Napoleon was in bed^ wliich he did not lea^^e during
the time of the shocks, some veracious person wrote to England that
<' Bonaparte endeavoured to escape out of the house, but was stopped
hj the sentinels/' which falsehood was eagerly inserted in some of tba
winiiitftriflT pM>€ii»
A TOICE FAOM ST. HELENA.
231
of the wiud having been so strong at the time, that
they were obliged to use considerable exertion
in walking against it. The sensation was very
strongly felt in our kitchen, about forty yards from
the house, and at the guard-room, about five hun-
dred yards distant, particularly by those men who
were lying down on the ground.
Very little mischief was done in the island. It
appeared that the direction of the shocks was
perpendicular. Had it been lateral, James Town
must have been overwhelmed with immense mas-
ses of rock.
22nd. — Saw Napoleon in his bed-room. When
I entered it, he was employed in making some
calculations. He raised his eyes, looked at me,
and said, smiling, "Well, Mr. Doctor, tremble-
ment de terre last night. I observed that I had
experienced three distinct shocks. After he had
remained a short time at his calculations, he got
up^ and said that he was in bed at the time it
occurred. " At the moment of the first shock,"
continued he, "I imagined, and said to myself,
some accident has happened to the Conqueror ;
she has taken fire and is blown up,* or else some
powder magazine on the island has exploded. At
the second shock, however, I immediately per-
* When this surmise was mentioned a short time afterwards to
Admiral Flampin^ the following remark was made :— '' Xj, ay, the
rascal supposed so^ hecaose he wished it I"
232 A VOICE FnOM 8T. BXIiBKA.
ceived what it was^ and said it was an earth-
quake.** I asked if he had heard the rumbling
noise which accompanied it^ and that I thought
the duration of it had been from sixteen to eighteen
seconds. Napoleon replied that he thought it
had lasted altogether about twelve seconds. He
mentioned that he had felt the shock of an
earthquake once before at Ferrara, at break of
day. Some further conversation about earth-
quakes then took place, during which I mentioned
that a shock had been felt in St. Helena in the
year 1756, and another in 1782. I said that it
was likely the fanatics and the superstitious in
the island would attribute the earthquake to his
presence ; for the Portuguese had said that the
strong and destructive south-east-wind which
prevailed at Madeira in 1815, when the Northum-
berland arrived off Funchal, and had done so
much mischief, had been produced by his arrival.
He laughed very heartily at this, and observed,,
that to make a good tale of it (the earthquake) it
ought to have occurred immediately upon his ar-
rival, or a few days after.
Napoleon then said he had been informed that
Lord Moira had demanded twenty thousand ad-
ditional European troops in India. ^^ I do not
believe it," said he, "but if there is any necessity
to send troops to India, it is owing to the imbe-
cility of your ministers in having given up any
A^ VOICH FROM 8T. BEImENA. 1233
pafisesricm hepmd the Cape to the French. If
tme^^ it has bieea most probably caused by some
intrigiung French adventurers, of whom there
are now 'so many thousands without employment,
who, jdning necessity to their hatred of you, have
stirred up the Mahrattas against you. Instead of
hanng g^ven up Pondicherry, and the Isle de
Bourbon to the French, you ought to have acted
as the Romans did to the Carthaginians, and said,
'Yoa shall not stir beyond such a latitude,* not
for ever, because that would be an injustice, but
for ten years or longer, until your fears for the
safety of the Indies are over. My opinion is,
that your having given up Pondicherry and Bour-
bon to the French, will cost you ten thousand more
Europeans in India, without benefiting France in
the position she is, under those imbeciles the Bour-
bons. Even when / was in power, I would not
have given a quattrino (a farthing) for those pos-
sessions, had it not been for the hopes that I al-
ways entertained of driving you out of India; to
effect which, and to maintain a correspondence,
the isle of France or of Bourbon was so necessary.
Every year I received ambassadors from the Na-
bobs and other Indian princes, especially those of
the Mahrattas, imploring help from me, and offer-
ing to drive you from India, provided I would
assist them with fourteen or sixteen thousand in-
fieoitry, artillery, and officers. They offered to
VOL. II. 2 H
234 A VOICE FROM ST. HELBNA.
find all the cavalry if I would send officers to in-
struct their troops. The hatred they expressed
against you was astonishing. Every year I had
those proposals through different channels. Very
frequently by the isle of France, mercantuzzi, (petty
merchants) came with letters for me, in Danish
vessels, and sometimes over land, which they
had concealed about them. Several came in dis-
guise by ♦♦. Possibly you may have some in-
terested views in giving up Pondicherry, thinking
that thereby you may smuggle some of your India
goods by French tenders into France. But this
cannot be of sufficient weight against the great in-
jury arising from the proximity to your Indian
possessions of a rival nation like the French. Your
having given up that colony, will also excite envy
and a desire to recover all they formerly had,
whereas, if they had none, they would forget
that they ever had had any possessions in India.
You ought not to have allowed the French or any
other nation to have put their nose (mettere ilnaso)
beyond the Cape. You ought to monopolize the
whole China trade to yourselves. Instead of going
to war with the Chinese, it were better to make
war with the nations who desire to trade with
them. You ought not to suffer the Americans to
send a ship there. You gave up Batavia to the
Dutch, who next to the French, it was your inte-
rest to shut out from India. The Dutch use a large
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 235
quantity of tea, which should be supplied by
you. The first and grand object of every nation
is to consider its own interests, especially when
every other country gains something. After my
fyU, you might have had any thing you liked to
ask for, but whilst other nations were acquiring
territory, you abandoned your first interests, and
even neglected to make a treaty favourable to
your commerce, for which you are now suffer-
ing, and will suffer, and the expedients you have
put into execution will only procrastinate the evil
day."
25th. — ^Napoleon sent for me in the evening
about eight o'clock. Found him in his bed-room.
He complained of slight headach and pain in the
right side of the face, which he said he had felt
immediately upon going into the garden, in conse-
quence of the effect of the wind, and which had
prevented him from staying out more than a
quarter of an hour. He felt some nausea, and
eat scarcely any thing at dinner. After I had re-
commanded him what I thought advisable, ho
asked me (as he had done sometimes before) of
what kind of temperament I took him to be, what
was necessary to be done to keep him in a state of
good health ? I replied that I conceived him to be
of a temperament which required much activity ;
that it was necessary for him to employ both his
physical and mental faculties almost constantly
2ISG Jf TOICK FROM ilT. muuiA^. '^
and that without the exercise of both the mlodaad
the body, it was my opiniou he could not Jimg r^
main in health. That he was a man who required
to stir much about. ^^You are righl^** replied the
emperor, ^' such has been necessary to me through
my life, such is now, and such will be as long as
the machine holds. Exercise of the mind I almost
daily take in my writings and otherwise ; and ex-
ercise of the body I should take even in this island,
were I not in the hands of a boja. But under the
present system it can never take place. Never
can I put myself in the way of being insulted by
sentinels, or receiving a fusillade if I stirred oflf
the high road.
26th. — Saw Napoleon at nine o'clock. He com*
plained of a sensation of soreness in the lower ex-
tremities. His legs, especially the left, swelled
and the ankles pitted upon pressure. Appetite de-
ficient. Some nausea at times. Gums spongy.
In addition to exercise, &c. I recommended the
continuance of a greater quantity of antiscorbutic
vegetables. He objected to taking a dose of phy«*
sic, which I advised, not on account of any dread
which he had of it, or of its bad taste, but because
he was of opinion, that the more medicine wae
administered, the more one stood in need of k^
*^Take a dose of medicine once,** said he, ^^and
in all probability you will be obliged to take
additional hundred afterwards.'"
Jk VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA. 237
He then eat bis breakfast before me, which con-
sisted of two or three radishes, a little toast and
butter, followed by a little caf^ au lait.
28tt. — Saw Napoleon at eleven, a. m. Appeared
to be in nearly the same state as yesterday. Ankles
cedematous; appetite bad ; eat nothing since break-
fast yesterday. His body has been rendered so
extremely sensible to external impressions, that
the slightest exposure to wind or cold produced
a catarrhal or rheumatic affection. I proposed
to call in Mr. Baxter, giving as a reason, that
when a person of so much consequence and in
such peculiar circumstances was even slightly in-
disposed, it was proper to call in the first medical
advice. Napoleon replied, "There is no neces-
sity for it. If all the colleges of medicine in France
and England were assembled, they would give
the same advice that you have done, viz. to take
exercise on horseback. I myself know as well as
any physician what is necessary for me. It is
exercise. Calling in Baxter to me would be like
sending a physician to a man who was starving
with hanger, instead of giving him a loaf of bread.
I have no objection to your making known to him
my state of health if you like, and I am well aware
that he will say exercise. As long as the present
system is in force, I will never stir out.** When
I again urged the subject, •MVhat," said he,
^ would yoo have me render myself liable to be
238 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
Stopped and insulted by a sentinel^ as Madame
Bertrand was some days ago^ at ten minutes past
six in the evening, and while it was still day-
light ? If I had been in her place, it would have
occurred, as the sentinel had orders to stop every
body. It would have been a fine subject for
this governor to have written upon to London, and
to have stuck a caricature in the print-shops, of
Napoleon Bonaparte stopped at the gate, with a
sentinel charging his bayonet upon him. It would
have been very amusing to this * * *, and the
Londoners would have laughed. Until matters
are put on the footing they were in Cockbum's
time, which were approved of by his government,
or an equivalent given, I shall never stir out. The
bill is positive ; no alterations ought to have taken
place, except such as were ordered by the Prince
Regent and the privy council, and signed by the
Regent or Lord Liverpool; not by Lord Bathurst.
I consider all restrictions not made by them as
null. Force certainly can execute any thing, and
to avoid the possibility of being insulted, I have
shut myself up ; and until I know to a certainty
what restrictions there are, and by whom made, I
shall not venture out, or expose myself to the ca-
price of my enemy. By prohibiting me to speak
to such persons as I might meet, he offered to me
the greatest insult which could be given to man.
It is true that he has since taken it off ; but if he
▲ VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 239
has the power to make restrictions as he pleases,
he may renew it to-morrow upon some pretext.
To a man who has the power of doing what he
likes, a pretext will never be wanting. You may
tell him what I have said, and that I believe the
intentions of ♦♦♦♦♦♦ and * ♦ ♦ ♦ » were and
are to put an end to me, by inducing disease from
confinement, and that such are not the intentions
of the Prince Regent, of Lord Liverpool, or Lord
Sidmouth. For the restrictions sicr le moral im-
posed by him upon a man like me, have the same
effect in imprisoning me, as chains and irons on
the legs would have upon galley slaves. To rob-
bers and galley-slaves, physical restrictions arc
imposed — aux gens ^clairdsy moral ones. There is
not a little lieutenant in that regiment who would
go out if subjected to the restrictions imposed upon
me. I asked the ambassador, ^^ Would you, my
Lord, go out under the restrictions of not speaking
more to any person you met, than. How do you do?
unless in the presence of an officer ? (It is true
that he has taken this off, but he may put it on
again according to his caprice.) Would you go
out under the restriction of not being able to move
to the right or to the left of the road ? Would you
stir out under the obligation of coming in again
at six o'clock in the evening, or otherwise run the
risk of being stopped by sentinels at the gates ?
He replied instantly, " Non^ je ferais comme vous
240 A VOICE FROM fTT. HBLENil.
je resterais dans ma chambre.^ There are different
ways of assassinating a man ; the pistol, the 8Word|
poison, or morally assassinating, as ♦♦♦♦•♦
and ♦ * ♦ ♦ ♦ are doing to me. It is the same
in the end, excepting that the latter is the most
cruel. When the admiral, who was a man d*mn
caractSre duvj was here, you recollect what a dif-
ferent kind of life I led. I rode out four or five
times a week, saw company, and even invited
English officers, ladies, and others to dine. In
the admiral I had confidence. His word I be-
lieved, and not the slightest suspicion of sinister
design ever entered my head, parcequil avait la
marche droite et sincere^ rien de tortueux ou de
tracassant Although I disagreed with him, and
thought he was un homme dur^ still I felt confi-
dence in his character and in his integrity. Had I
any intention of committing suicide, as this geoUer
insinuates, I should have done it in the beginnings
when, fi-om not having been accustomed to it, I
must have felt it most oppressive. Besides, if I
intended it, a pistol would be my resource, t/c
naime pas la longue guerre. What inconvenience
ever occurred during Cockburn's time by nay
riding out ? The intentions of * ♦ ♦ ♦ * * are to
impose restrictions of such a nature, that I, with*
out degrading my character, and rendering myself
an object of contempt in the eyes of the world,
must imprison myself; thereby in the course of
*i' VOICE -ntOM ST. RBLENA. 241
time to bring on disease, which in a frame impaired
hj confidement and the blood being decomposed,
must prove mortal, and that I may thus expire in
protracted agonies, which may have the appear-
ance of a natural death. This is the plan, and is
a manner of assassinating jast as certain, but more
cmel and criminal, than the sword or the pistol.**
. • The only one of us,** ^dded he, " who goes
out, I may say, is Gourgaud, and he has been
itopped upwards of fifty times. Had I been in
his place, the same thing would have happened to
me. Once during the admiraFs time I was stop-
ped, but he instantly metteva Visola sotto sopra^
(tamed the island topsy turvy,) on account of it ;
and I clearly saw that he was really displeased,
and that he took every precaution to prevent the
recurrence of a similar circumstance. Now this
brute would, on the contrary, be pleased with it,
Or with any thing else that would have a tendency
to lessen or to degrade my character.**
•* I am well convinced,** added Napoleon, " that
Ihe barbarous manner in which I am treated will
l>e revenged by the blood of some innocent Eng-
lishmen. By the argument and doctrines of your
iis^inisters, that it is useful to keep me here, every
Bi.crt, however atrocious, may be justified. Would
i^ not have been useful to me to have procured the
Bussassination of Nelson or Wellington r Would it
VOL. II. 2 I
242 A VOICB FROM 8T. BBLBNA.
not now be useful to the French nation to get ri
of all the allied troops by poisoning the bread and
the water ? Would it not be useful to them to as*
sassinate Wellington ? It is not the utility of an
act which is to be considered^ it is its justness;
for by the former principle every species of crime
may be apparently justified^ as being useful, and
therefore necessary. It is the doctrine of Talley-
rand,**
Soon after this, Sir Hudson Lowe came to
Longwood, and having made some enquiries re-
specting Napoleon's health, asked if I had had
any particular conversation with him upon the
subject of his complaint ? In reply, I communi-
cated to him the foregoing conversation, avoiding
the repetition of the epithet bourreau. His excel-
lency called Major Gorrequer to be a witness to
some parts of it, viz. that about Lord Amherst
which he said he did not believe, and the inten-
tions which Napoleon attributed to certain per-
sons, and asked, if I had made any reply? I said,
No. He observed, that a reply might easily have
been made, if I had been disposed to do so, but
that it appeared I was of the same way of thinking
as General Bonaparte asserted Lord Amherst had
been ; and asked if such were the case ? I an-
swered, that as a medical man, I had strongly re»
commended Napoleon to take exercise on horse-
A YOiCfi FROM ST. HELENA. 243
back. This did not satisfy Sir Hudson Lowe,
who in an angry tone and manner, repeated his
question* I replied, that as my opinions, when
^ven in reply to his questions, had latterly caused
so much anger, I must beg leave to decline giving
any, unless upon medical subjects: that more*
over, my opinion was of little consequence, add-
ing, that as a medical man, I had strongly recom-
mended exercise. This reply greatly displeased
Sir Hudson Lowe, who observed that it was in
vain to expect any thing good from a person pos-
sessed of such sentiments. That he had no confi-
dence in any person about General Bonaparte.
After a tolerable long harangue, in which he ac-
cused Napoleon of having crammed the ambas-
sadors head with calumnies, and purposely de-
layed seeing him until the day before his depar-
ture, in order that he, (Sir Hudson,) might not have
an opportunity of refuting them ; he concluded
by saying, " Do you not think, sir, that General
Bonaparte has treated me most shamefully in that
business ^'^ I replied, that Napoleon had been so
unwell as not to be in a situation to receive stran-
gers ; that until the last moment, he had been un-
decided whether to receive his lordship or not:
and that Lord Amherst had been at his, (Sir Hud-
son's) house for several days, during which he
must have had ample opportunities of making his
A -ToKik nioit M. imstKi.
lordship acquainted with every particular. ITiat
if I were rightly informed, Lord Amherst had
seen and conversed with him for some hours after
the interview his lordship had with Napoleon,
with whom he had been only about two hours.
This reply excited his excellency's wrath, who,
looking at me with an expression of countenance
that I shall never forget, said, " if it were not that
it would be made a subject of complaint, I should
immediately, and without waiting the orders of
government, send yon off the island, sir. I have
received no official intelligence from government
concerning your appointment; you are not of my
choosing; you are only permitted to visit General
Bonaparte as a medical man." I observed that I
was acting according to his own instructions, by
confining myself to medical subjects. He repeated
his threat of sending me off the island ; to which
I answered by telling him that a dismissal from
St. Helena would not give me the smallest uneasi-
ness. At^er this Sir Hudson went down to Count
Bertrand's, where he remained about half an hour.
On his return be sent for me, and after saying that
General Bonaparte had been represented by Count
Bertrand to be in a much worse state of health
than 1 bad mentioned, ordered me to send him a
written report of his health.
About four o'clock. Count Balmaine, with Ba-
^ jFaiOS PROM ST. HSLBNA, 245
fqn BXkd Madame Starmer came as far as the inner
|;ate of Loii^^wood, where they met General and
Madame Bertrand, who with the little Arthur,
and a maid-servant, were walking out Shortly
afterwards General Montholon joined them. They
remained together for nearly an hour, walking be-
tween the guard room and the inner gate. It was
amusing to observe the gestures of Sir Thomas
Reade, who was all the time standing at, or moving
before Captain Blakeney^s door, with a telescope
ia bis hand; especially at a time when a thick fog
<;ame on, which completely ol^scured them from
the knight^s view, who was vainly endeavouring to
penetrate it with his glass«
Sir Hudson Lowers visit to Count Bertrand, I
am informed, was to offer that a soldier s barrack
fibottld be put up at Long wood for Napoleon to
walk under, as a substitute for the deficiency of
continuous shade. Some conversation also took
place about the rest lict ions, in which observations
of a nature similar to those of Napoleon to me in
the morning, were made to Sir Hudson Lowe by
Count Bertrand, who also informed his excellency
of the opinion expressed by Lord Amherst.
^ 4Baw Napoleon in the evening. He was in
ffnuch the same state as in the morning. Told me
Chat be had seen Madame Sturmer through his
glass, and passed some commendations upon the
Msy.bloom of her cheeks*
246 A VOICE FROM 8T. HSLBNA*
29th. — Signal made for Captain Blakeney to
proceed to Hantation Hoase. Sent my report of
Napoleon^s health by him, and made apptication
for some sea-water to be sent to Longwood for a
bath for the use of Napoleon.
Saw Napoleon, who was in much better spirits.
He had eaten freely of antiscorbmtics. His gums
were a littte better. The lower extremities nearly
the same in point of size, but not so painfiiL
Had a jocular conversation with Um about
patron saints. He asked who was my patroi^
saint, — ^what was my Christian name } I replied^
that my first was a family name ; that I was cd-
led after Barry, Lord Avenmor^ an Irisb peer*
^But,*^ said he, laughing, ^'you must have some
patron saint to befriend you, and plead your
cause in the next world ?** I n>entioned my second
Christian name. " Ah T said he^ " then he will
plead for you. St. Napoleon ought ta be very
much obliged to me, and do every thing in his
power for me in the world to come. Poor fellow^
nobody knew him before. He had not even a
day in the kalendar. I got him one, and per-
suaded the Pope to give him the fifteenth of
August, my birth-day. I recoUect,"* continued he^
^^ when I was in Italy, a priest preaching about a
poor sinner who had departed this life. His soul
appeared before God^ and he was required to give
on account of all his actions* The evU aad thft
A V<H€S FROM 8T. HBLBNA. 247
good were afterwards thrown into opposite scales
in order to see which preponderated. That con-
tmning the good proved much the lightest^ and in-
stantly flew up to the beam. His poor soul was
condemned to the infernal regions, conducted by
angels to the bottomless pit, delivered over to
devils, and thrown into the flames. ^Already/
said the preacher, ^had the devouring element
covered his feet and legs, and proceeded upwards
even unto his bowels ; in his vitals, oh ! brethren,
he felt them. He sunk, and only his head ap-
peared above the waves of fire, when he. cried out
to God, and afterwards to his patron saint. ' Oh !
patron,' said he, ^ look down upon me ; oh ! take
compassion upon me, and throw into the scale of
my good deeds, all the lime and stone which I
gave to repair the convent of . His saint in-
stantly took the hint, gathered together all the
lime and stone, threw them into the scale of good,
which immediately preponderated ; the scale of
evil sprung up to the beam, and the sinner's soul
into paradise at the same moment. Now you see
by this, brethren how useful it is to keep the con-
vents in repair, for had it not been for the lime
and stone bestowed by this sinner, his poor soul
would even now, children, be consuming in hell
fire ; and yet you are so blind as to let the con-
vent and the church, built by your forefathers, fall
248 A VOICB WQM Wrf 9WUI|f A4
to ruin/ At this time,** contfamed he^ buigfciiif*
^^ these canaglie wanted to get a new oonwutr
built, and bad recourse to this expedient to pfi^
cure, money, which after this, poured in npom*
them from all quarters.**
Napoleon then began to rally me about my:
profession. ^^ You medical people,** said he, ^ will
have more lives to answer for in the other world
than even we generals. What will you say for your*-
self,** said he, laughing, ^^ when you are called to
account for all the souls of poor sailors you have
despatched to the other world t or what will your
saint say for you, when the accusing angel pro-
claims, ^ such a number you sent out of the worlds
by giving them heating medicines, when you ought
to have given cooling ones, and vice versa; so
many more, because you mistook their complaints^
and bled them too much ; others because you did
not bleed them enough ; numbers because they
were canaille^ and you did not pay them as mncb
attention as you would have done to the captun
or the admiral, and because you were over your
bottle, or at the theatre, or with a fine girl, and
did not like to be disturbed, or after drink (jn
English), when you went and distributed medi^i
cines, a dritto ed a torto, (right and wrong). How
many because you were not present at the time
a change in the complmnt took place, when a me^
dicine given at the moment might have saved
them 2 Hov many others because the provisions
wera bad, and you would not complain through
fear of offending the foitmissewsF'*
I replied by observing, that on the score of con-
science I was perfectly easy in my mind ; that
human nature was liable to err ; that very likely
I had made mistakes, but not intentional ones;
nor had I. ever paid less attention to the canaille
than to the officers ; and endeavoured as nmch as
possible, as I perceived that he was half in earnest,
to- uphold the honour of my profession. I. also
eaqplmned to him, that in our service, the surgeons
could gain nothing by not complaining of the
^oumisseurs, &c. Napoleon answered, that cer-*
tainly a man ought always to be judged by his
intentions ; but that there were abuses in all de*
partments, which were principally kept up by
people being either interested, or afraid to com-
plain ; that he had endeavoured to eradicate them
as much as possible, in which he had effected
much } but had not been able perfectly to succeed.
^ My opinion,** continued he, ^^ is, that physicians
kill as many as us generals. AVhen they despatch
a number of souls to the other world either through
ignorance, mistake, or not having properly exa^
mined their complaints, they are just as cool and
as little concerned as a general with whom I antao*-
VOL. II. 2 K
250 A VOICE FROM 8T« RBUIIA.
quainted, who lost three thousand men in storming
a hilL Having succeeded, after several desperate
attempts, he observed, with g^at sangfroid^ ^Oik,
it was not this hill I wanted to take ; it was ano*
ther ; this is of no utility/ and returned back again
to his former position.** I remarked that it seeob
ed as if he thought physicians as bad and as
ignorant as they are described to be in Moli^
or Gil Bias. He laughed, and said, '*I believe
that there are a great many of Moli^res phyri-
cians. Of surgery, I have quite a different opi-
nion; as there you do not work in the dark.
There you at least have daylight, and your senses
to guide and assist you. You recollect having
heard of Sieyes ?** I replied in the affirmative.
"Sieyes,** continued he, ** before the revolution,
was almoner to one of the princesses. One day,
when he was performing mass in the chapel before
herself, her attendants, and a large congregation,
something occurred which made the princess get
up and retire. Her example was followed by her
ladies in waiting, and by the whole of the nobility,
officers, and others, who attended more out of
complaisance to her than from any true sense of
religion. Sieyes was very busy reading his bre-
viary, and for some time did not perceive it.
Lifting up his eyes, however, from his book, lo!
be observed that the princess, nobles, and all the
▲ TOICK FROM ST. HBUNA. 251
Others camme il/aut, had disappeared. T^th an
ur of displeasure and contempt he shut the book,
hastily descended from the palpit, exclaiming, ' /
do not say mass for the canaille ;\ and went out of
the chapel^ leaving the service half finished. . Now,**
laid he, laughing very heartily, '^ many of you
physicians would leave a patient half cured, be-
cause he was one of the canaille.'' *
. He then spoke of Larrey. " Larrey,** said he,
^was the most honest man, and the best friend
to the soldier that I ever knew. Vigilant and
indefatigable in his exertions for the wounded,
Jjarrey was seen on the field of battle, after an
action, accompanied by a train of young surgeons,
endeavouring to discover if any signs of life re-
mained in the bodies. In the most inclement
weather, and at all times of the night and the day,
Larrey was to be found amongst the wounded.
He scarcely allowed a moment*s repose to his as-
sistants, and kept them eternally at their posts.
He tormented the generals, and disturbed them
out of their beds at night whenever he wanted ac-
commodations or assistance for the wounded or
sick. They were all afraid of him, as they knew
he would instantly come and make a complaint
to me. He paid court to none of them, and was
the implacable enemy of the foumisseurs.
Speaking about service on board of ships of
2SS A ToiGB raoM'Vr; ■■uniA^
war at sea during the winter^ Specially of' a«eitdto
dass^ I remarked, that the fleamea wem bettnr off
in point of being able to warm themaelTes at li Jn
than the officers. ^ Why soT said NapoleOfL; -I
replied, ^ Because they have the advantage of tke
galley fire,* where they can warm and dry thein^
selves."* ^^And why not the officers T I saidi
that it would not be exactly decorous for the
officers to mix in that familiar way with the men.
'^ Ah t la morgue aristocratique, la rage aristoerO'
tique^ exclaimed Napoleon. '* Why, in my cam*
paigns I used to go to the lines in the bivouau^ rit
down with the meanest soldier, converse, langfa^
and joke with him. I always prided myself on
being Vhomme du peuple^ (the man of the people)*
I observed that a man in his exalted situation
might do without impropriety that which, if done
by an inferior officer, especially on board of a shqi^
might produce too much familiarity, perhaps coa-
tempt, and thereby relaxation of discipline. ^ La
morgue aristocratique^ cried Napoleon again^
^^ you are the most aristocratical nation in the
world. Had I been one of iho^ prmcipotti in
Germany, your oligarchy would never have 4Knt
me here. But because ^e suis Vhomme du peuple^
because I may say that I raised myself from the
canaille to the greatest height of power without
* The galley is the kitchen on board of A ayui of raw
.▲KwnoE mou.n. maxsA. ®3
lliieoEdd^Df tiic aristDcrsby Dr heredity b^
dCBOwa long lint 06 nobies.oi* of fetty princes did
nrabrififltiDgiiiBhrmyiiaiiie^.becaaiie m fact I was
jBi6t4titof tfaem^ thej determined ta oppress and
humiliate me when hi their: power; Lords Ba-
lihitfvt and CSastlereaghi k cdndille dt Varistocratiej
jm ihe persons who hbye ordered ^1 these at-
'jtinlpU. John Bull will comprehend that I am
i«>ppre8sed T^orof ftte je stms du peuple, m order to
'pteVedt any of thein^ from presuming* to elevate
XhemsdveS to a level with the aristocracy.^
J .'He concluded by observing, ^Hhat the governor
tlways took a witness with him to Bertrand*8, for
,tbe' purpose, he supposed, of testifying to every
iHtfng that he thought proper to assert That in
<ril probability he made a prods verbal as he liked,
jh&d got the other to sign it. That, therefore, to
{irevent his making conversations, he had ordered
iBertrand to write an oflGicial letter* to him, stating
^their grievances and what they wanted.**
30f A. — ^Napoleon much in the same state. Went
.to Plantation House to report. Found that Sir
Hudson Lowe had gone out. Met him at Long-
Wood on my return. Informed him of the state
of Napoleon*s health ; and in reply to some of his
observations, told him that there was nothing im*
mediately dangerous, but that cedematous sweU
^ Apptndix^ K0| XI.
254 A VOICE FROM 8T. HELENA.
liDgs of the extremities taking place with a man of
Napoleon's time of life and of hia temperament
and present habits, were always to be looked upon
with a suspicious eye, as such were frequently the
primary symptoms of dropsy.
His excellency said, that his principal object in
coming to Longwood had been to obtain an an-
swer from Count Bertrand, to an offer which he
had made on the 28th of the month, to put up a
soldiers' barrack seventy feet long, which might be
formed into a temporary gallery to walk in, until
an answer arrived from England relative to build-
ing the new house. That he could get no reply
from Berlrand, but a shrug of the shoulders,
that Count Bertrand had been very violent in bia
language, and had not merely asked for one or two
things, but had insisted "that every thing should
be put upon the same footing as during Sir George
Cockburn's time. That the emperor would not
Etir out unless permission were given to him (Ber-
trand) to admit persons by his pass into Long-
wood. That he should write and hold correspon-
dence with whoever he liked, go where he liked,
enter what houses he liked, in fact do what he
liked in the island without any restriction." He
then asked if I had heard any thing from him of
the conversation which they had held with the
commissioners ? I replied, " that I had not beard
A TOICB FROM 8T. HBLBNA. 255
him mention even their names.** His excellency
nid, that ^ it was very extraordinary, as General
Bonaparte had made some very strong remarks
about them to Mr. Balcombe.**
Saw Napoleon again in the evening. He com-
plained of pain in his teeth and cheeks, which he
attributed to having taken a walk in the garden
for ten minutes. Proposed to him that the barrack
should be erected. He replied, that he stood in
need of exercise in the open air, and not in a co*
vered gallery. That he had caused a gallery of
a league in length to be built at in France,
but that it had not answered the purpose. More-
over that in summer, the billiard-room became so
bot at five o*clock in the afternoon from the rays of
the sun penetrating through it, as to render it im-
possible to remain there ; that a wooden barrack
would be worse : that it would therefore be use-
less to erect it, as the shade of the trees was what
was desired.
October 1st. — Saw Napoleon in his bed-room
at eight, a. m. He complained of a dull pain (do^
lore sordo) in the right hypochondriac region, im-
mediately under the cartilages of the ribs, which
he said he experienced yesterday morning for the
first time. Sensation in the right shoulder, which
he described to be more of numbness than of pain.
Slight inclination to cough. Want of rest at night
256 A TOICB FROM 8T. imfiBNA.
He said that he felt as if he Mranted to leaA xit
•
press his side against something (vorrei oppoggi-
armi incantro a qualche cosa). Gums spongy^ and
his legs a little swelled* Pulse 68. Appetite
tolerable. Said he felt something in the ri^t
side which never was there before. Told him that
it might probably be owing to costiveness, and re>
commended a dose of physic^ which I smd would
also be proper if it were the commencement of
liver complaint, the prevailing disease of the island.
That if it increased, and were accompanied by
other symptoms, there could not be a doubt of its
being hepatitis ; in which case it would be neces^
sary to have recourse to proper remedies^ wfaicb-
I specified, together with abstinence from win^
and a suitable diet. He shook his head at th(^
proposal of physic. I told him that if it were^
hepatitis, it must not be neglected, as if not takeii^
in time, it would terminate fatally. He replied,
^^Almeno avro questa consolazione^ chela mia marte
sara un disonore etemo alia nazione Inglese, which
has sent me to this climate to die under the
hand of a * * *.*• I observed that he ought not
to accelerate his own death by refusing to take
proper remedies. He replied, " Ce qui est ^crit,
est Verity from above,** looking up. "Nosjoitmies
sont comptdesP I answered, that according to that
doctrine, all medical md was useless. He made
no reply.
•A TOICB PROM ST. RBLBNA. 257
~ With respect to diet and abstinence from wine,
iie observed that he was a man who had never
committed any excesses either in eating or drink-
ing*. That he drank very little wine ; however,
that be foand the little he took was absolutely
necessary, always finding himself better after it,
and was convinced that if he left it off, he should
rink rapidly. He then went into a salt-water
bath, and had a long conversation with me upon
medical subjects.
2nd. — Napoleon felt relieved by the salt-water
bath yesterday. Continued much in want of rest.
Recommended exercise on horseback, &c.
Saw him again at ten in bed. His legs were a
little more swelled than in the morning. He would
liave taken another bath, but there was no water.
Had eaten scarcely any thing. Slight headach.
3rd. — ^Examined the right side, and perceived
that it felt firmer to the touch than the left.
TThere was also a tumefaction evident to the
eight, which when pressed hard, gave a little pain.
Napoleon said, that this was observed about
two months since. That he had thought nothing
of it, and attributed it to obesity, but that now«
from its being attended with pain, he imagined
it might be connected with enlargement of the
Jiver.*
* Ai it is not the intention of the author to tire the reader with
TOL. II. 2 L
258 A VOICE FROM 8T. BSLBNA.
I recommended calomel^ frictions to the eztre*
mities, diligent use of the flesh-brushy hot salt-wa-
ter bath^ a continuance of antiscorbutics, a gargle^
exercise on horseback, &c. Napoleon said that
the governor had written to Count Bertrand yes-
terday, stating, that he (Napoleon) might go off
the road, and down into the valley, but that the
same privilege, unless with him, was not to be ex-
tended to his officers. '* Mere tracasserie,** said
he, when I recommended him to profit by it,
** It would only expose me to more insults, for
the sentinels do not know me, and every old
soldier who wished to fulfil his duty, so as to
clear himself of all responsibility, would say,
^ Halte Ih, is General Bonaparte amongst you?
Are you him ? Oh, then, if you are him, you may
pass/ Thus should I be exposed to daily insults,
and be obliged to give an account of myself to
every sentinel who thought it right to perforin his
duty properly. Besides, he has no right to impose
more restrictions upon questi signori, than upon
me. By the paper which they have signed, they
only agree to subject themselves to such re-
strictions as are or may be imposed upon me.
Moreover, I do not recognize his right to impose
the detul of a medical Joamal^ the enumeration of the STmptonif
will^ for the future, be discontinued, unless where absolutely jm-
cOBsary.
A YOIGB FROM 8T. HELENA. 259
any other restrictions than those made hy Admiral
Cockbuni, which were approved of by his govern-
ment, unless he shews that they are signed by the
Prince Regent, or by the ministers. For if he has
the power to impose what restrictions he likes,
he may, according to his caprice, or upon some
pretext, which to him would never be wanting,
lay them on again, or make them worse than be-
fore. This is one of the reasons that I have not
taken exercise, that I may leave nothing in his
power to inflict. I do not choose to subject my-
self to the caprice of a man whom I do not trust,
and who is my personal enemy. Besides, I never
would go out without sending Gourgaud to ascer-
-tmn that there was no danger of being stopped and
insulted by sentinels.
I asked permission to call in Mr. Baxter to see
him. He said, that if the symptoms increased, he
probably would, as I wished it, provided that the
governor did not interfere with it, se sene mischia,
maif (if he did interfere never).
4th. — ^Went to Plantation House according to
order, and gave Sir Hudson Lowe a written re-
port of the state of Napoleon's health. After hav-
ing read it, he said, that there were too many
details in it, and that I must make out one which
could be made public. Said that he had received
a long letter from Count Bertrand, containing ar«
960 A VOICE FROM 87. HSLBNA,
guments similar to those which I was in the habit
of using^ and in which there was an allusion to
Lord Liverpool^ which when coupled with cu^
cumstances that had taken place some time ago^
looked as if there were some correspondence id
that quarter. I said that Napoleon had always
declared, that he believed Lords Liverpool and
Sidmouth to be better disposed towards bim than
any others of the English ministers. That, indeec^
I had never beard him speak ill of any of the
English ministers nominatively, excepting Lordi
Bathnrst and Castlereagh.
6/A. — Saw Napoleon in the morning, who wai
much in the same state as before.
Count Montholon, Count Balmaine, and Cap-
tain Gor, had a long conversation together.
Qth. — ^Napoleon nearly the same. Again re-
commended him exercise most strongly, mid told
him, that if he deferred it much longer, tbe swell-
ings in his legs might increase so much as to
render bim incapable of taking it. That if he
mounted on horseback, and rode, I was con*
vinced all the swellings in the lower extremi-
ties would soon disappear. He assented to
this, but declared, that until things were put on
the footing they had been in Sir George Cock*
burn*s time, or equivalent, he would not go out.
That be wan determined to leave nothing in thf
A VMCB PROM ST. HBLBKA. 261
power of a man who had been mad enough to pro-
hibit him from speakings and who, at his caprice^
might order him to be blindfolded, to prevent hui
making a reamnaissance. That the restrictions
were efaiefly upon the moral, and not physical ; as
he m^ght go into the wood when be liked, but that
considering the person he had to deal with, he was
convinced that if he did, he (the governor) would
find some pi-etext to insult him, and he would
leave nothing in his power, unless matters were
put as they had been before, which would be an
acknowledgment that he was not to be subject to
bis caprice.**
I took the liberty of observing that he was like
a man tumbling down a precipice, who would not
lay hold of a rope within his grasp^ by which he
might save himself from inevitable death.* He
laughed at this comparison and said, ^ Que le sort
Mefasse^ noMJofumdes sant complies^
ItK — ^Napoleon nearly the same. Observed^
ftliat the governor had insinuated, that he (Napo-
leon) wanted to kill himselC ^ Had I intended
t\\\%^ continued he, ^I would have fallen upon
y sword k)ng ago, and died like a soldier. But
^ The reader wiU^ I trusty agree wit^ me in opiaioii^ that I wag
'^^Uiid, aa his medical adviger^ to endeavour to prevail upon my pa-
to use any remedy that mi^ht he henefidal to him; for tliis ptuv
262 A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA.
to purposely kill myself by the slow agonies of a
lingering disease, I am not fool enough to attempt
Je rial jamais aimi la tongue guerre. (I never
loved tedious warfare.) But there is no deatb^
however slow and painful, that I would not pre-
fer to dishonouring my character. A man who
was once capable of imposing the restrictions of
the 9th of October, and the 14th of March, is
capable of laying them on again, or even wors^
according to his caprice or his fears, real or ima-
ginary. If I were to go out and be once insulted
by a sentinel, it would have the effect of doing
more injury to my health than six months con*
finement. But this man is insensible to any moral
feeling. He thinks that he has got some Corsi*
can deserters or corporals to deal with. (Test
un melange d'imhecilliU et d'astuce. Before I had
gone cut a week, he would make some insinua*
tions, as he perpetually does, to the commissioners^
and say that 2 had abused the permission he had
given .*•
A large sealed packet addressed to the Earl of
Liverpool, given by Count Bertrand to Captaia
Blakeney, for which a receipt was taken.
Communicated the substance of what Napo-
leon had said to Sir Hudson Lowe, to whom I re-
peated, that whenever Sir George Cockbum mado
any regulations relative to the French^ he was
A TOICB FBOM 8T. HEUBNA. 263
costomed to discnss the matter with Count Ber-
trand or Montholon, by means of which they were
enabled to make arrangements in a manner likely
to give the least offence. Sir Hudson said, that
his own measures had been approved of by the
British government, and that most of the letters
which he had received, commenced by stating,
that the Prince Regent approved of, and had
commanded, that such and such measures should
be adopted.
8th. — ^Napoleon walked out for a short time in
the garden. Being so little accustomed to exer-
cise^ this fatigued him so much, that he was
obliged to sit down on the steps before the vi*
xanda. He was, however, in better spirits than
yesterday, and felt benefited by the salt-water
Imths, and such of the other remedies as he would
consent to use.
9th. — ^Not so well. Got cold yesterday, and
complains of pains in the lower extremities, and
had been very unwell in the night. '* I was going
to send for you early in the morning,'* said he,
''but then I considered this poor devil of a doctor
has been up all night at a ball, and has need of
sleep. If I disturb him, he will have his eyes so
heavy, and his intellects so confused, that he will
not be able to form any correct opinion. Soon
after this I fell into a perspiration, and felt much
relieved."
264 A YOICB mOBl Wt. BMUUUU
Immediately after I had left hiiD^ he wellt to bed
again, where he remmned for some hours.
lOM. — ^Napoleon in rather bad spirits, If^
somewhat less swelled, &g.
*'The governor," said he, ^was at Bertrand^
yesterday, and professed bis wish to accommodatei
but he has already done the same so often, with-
out having come to any conclusion, that he will
probably end as before. I ordered Bertrand to
send for the little Major (Grorrequer), talk the
matter over with him, and explain what we want
I conceive, that the only guarantee I have for my
life consists in having some communication with
the officers of the army and navy, and the inha*
bitants. For had communication existed before,
this governor would not have been able to have
continued his absurd restrictions so long as he
has ; although the place is small and wretched,
and the inhabitants nearly slaves to arbitrary
power, still the public opinion would have bad
some weight. Rumour would have reached Eng-
land, and John Bull would not have suffered con-
duct so disgraceful to his country. What I want
is to have no mystery or secrecy used about me.
Whenever there is mystery, there are always bad
intentions. Every thing ought to be conducted so
that it might be printed, and then nothing would
be printed. I care not if the house I live in were
made of glass. So ought the proceedings with
4a 9f PICS IW>A| $7.: USJUS^A^ 26&
fi|>ect to note to becondueted. Tou recollect that
during the admirals time no attempts were made
to sendJ^tt^ts to England, nor ever would, had
he remsdned^ because the situation was tolerable.
One coirid live then* I have explained to Ber-
tvand my: wishes relative to the receiving of visitors^
and told him to communicate to the governor that
be may easily arrange the matter by sending up a
M&t himself of such persons as he will permit to
visit Longwood, and to require that no insinua*
tions shall be made to prevent them from coming,
as has been the case hitherto. We can send
every thing we please to Europe, and always
could. With respect to the commissioners^ as
policy enters into that, I leave it to him. I have
told him already, that I would with pleasure re*
ceive the Austrian, his wife, and the Russian, as
private persons. If, however, political reasons
oppose it, I care not for it, though nothing can be
more ridiculous than to see those commissioners
unable to come inside of the inner gate of Long*
wood, when they are permitted to come as far as
it» and hold conferences with us as long and as
often as they please, which must excite for the au«
thor of such absurdities the ridicule and contempt
of every beholder. Ail that I desire is^ that it
may be clearly understood and explained to those
oommissionerSf that political reasons i aloae {ira#
YOU u. 2 M
266 A YOICB FROM 8T. HBLBNA.
vent tbeir being received at Longwood^ and that
they may not be crammed with such lies as ha?e
been told to them up to this day. They say they
have been informed by the governor that it is all
my fault ; that I have refused to see them. That
there does not pass a week in which this man
does not make insinuations to them, and that
such is the mystery and secrecy observed, that
they thought themselves in Venice or Ragnsa, in-
stead of an English colony. Every week produces
hints and insinuations that they have abused this
or that privilege. There is nothing in the world
makes a man hate another so much as insinua-
tions ; especially when they come from one in
power, because he cannot repel or answer thenu
With respect to strangers, let him, when a ship ar-
rives, send a list of such as he will allow to come
here — I mean of the greater number, and not pick
out ovie or two favorites. If he suspects any of
them let him say so, and no notice will be taken
of them, or let him not place their names on the
list. If I see strangers at all, it shall be from my
own will, and not because he likes it. Let him
do this — ^let him leave off his insinuations, and
above all, let there be no mystery, and I shall be
contented.**
Had some conversation with the emperor after-*
wards about Talleyrand. ^^ When I returned from
Jk VOfCB FIU>M 8T. HBLENA* 267
Italy^* said he^ '^ I went to live at a small house in
the Rae Chantereine (I think). A few days after-
wards the municipality of Paris ordered that it
should be called Rue de la Victmre. Every one
sought to manifest the national gratitude to me.
It was proposed to give me a fine hotel in P^ris^
and a magnificent estate. Although I had main-
tained and paid the army for two years^ and even
paid the arrears for some time posterior, and sent
more than thirty millions to the treasury of France
^I was scarcely worth three hundred thousand
francs. The directory, however, influenced pro-
'bably by jealousy, would not consent, and said
^hat my services were such as could not be re«
"^srarded by money. Every description of per-
sons tried to see me. The enthusiasm was au
zombie. I rarely however associated with others
^han Kleber, Desaix, Cafiarelli, and some savans.
"The directory gave me a splendid f6te. Talley-
rand, who was minister of foreign affairs, gave
another. I remained but a short time at either.
I was afterwards nominated to the command of
the array of England, which in fact was named so
to deceive your ministers as to its real destination^
which was Egypt.**
" Talleyrand had been bishop of Autun during
the revolution, and was one of the three bishops
who swore to the civil constitution of the clergy..
He was afterwards sent to England^ but becoming
Bospected during the furjr of the revoIutiODi he
fled to America, where he remained until after the
13th Vend^miaire, when his name was erased from
the list of emigrants. He insinuated himself into
the confidence of the directory, and. was miade
minister of foreign affairs, and as such had eon*
stant communication with me. It was then cos-
tomary to celebrate the anniversary of the exeeu-
tion of Louis the Sixteenth, at which Talleyrand
wished that I should attend. I replied, that I bad
no public functions ; that I did not like the cere*
mony ; that fStes were celebrated for victoriefl^
but that the victims left on the field of battle were
lamented with tears ; that celebrating the death of
a man, was not the policy of a government, but
that of a faction. Talleyrand maintained that it
was just, because it was politic; that all countriea
had rejoiced at the death of tyrants, and that my
presence was expected After a long argument
it was arranged that the institute should attend,
which I was to accompany as a member of the
class of mechanics to which I belonged. Although
I avoided public notice, the multitude, which paid
no attention to the directory, but had waited to
see me go out, filled the air with cries of * Plve le
gdniral de Varmde dltalie^ Never yet,** added
h^ ^ was there a general who was more beloved
by his troops.**
*^To shew you the confidence that I bad in tha
.A VOICfi FROM 8T. HBLBNA. 269
dUpoiflition (if the army," said he, ^ I need only
teconnt to yon an event which mil be consecrated
hj history. Five or six days after my landing* at
Cannes, the advanced goard of my Uttle army met
the advance of a division marching from Grenoble
against me. Cambronne, who commanded my
troops, wanted to address them, but they would
not listen to him. They also refused to receive
Raonl, whom I sent afterwards. When I was in-
formed of this, I went to them myself, with a few
of my gaard, with their arms reversed, and called
onl^ ' The first soldier who pleases may come for-
ward and kill his emperor/ It operated like an
electric shock, and ^ Five Vempereur resounded
through the ranks ; the division and my guards
fraternized, all joined me, and advanced together
to Grenoble. Close by Grenoble the brave Labd*
doy^re, a young man, animated by the noblest
sentiments, and disgusted by the conduct of the
unU&rahleSj against whom France had fought and
bled for so many years, joined me with his regi-
ment. At Grenoble, I found the regiment, in
-which, twenty-five years before, I had been cap-
tain, and some others, drawn up on the ramparts
to' oppose me. No sooner did they see me, than
enthusiastic cries of Vive Vempereur were heard,
not only from them, but from the whole of the
national guard and the populace: the gates were
270 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
torn down^ and I entered in triumph. What b
singular, and which strikingly shews the senti-
ments of the troops, is, that in a moment the six
thousand men by whom I was thus joined^ mount-
ed old tri- coloured cockades, which they had kept
as a treasure, when the army had been obliged to
adopt the Bourbon anti-national flag. I advanced
to Lyons, where I was joined by the troops charged
to defend it against me, and the Count d*Artois
was happy to escape, escorted by a single dragoon,
from the city he had commanded a few hours be-
fore. To all his intreaties, offers, and prayers,
Vive Vempereur was the reply,**
While sitting on the steps of the viranda this
day. Napoleon observed Mr. Stokoe walking with
me in the garden, and ordered him to be called.
He asked him several questions in Italian.
Sir Hudson Lowe and Major Gorrequer were
for some time at Count Bertrand's this day.
Sir Thomas Reade told me that Sir Hudson
Lowe had received a sealed parcel from Bertrand,
addressed to Lord Liverpool, which he would
forward, although he knew that it contained com->
plaints against himself. That he did not care
what complaints they made. That if it were not
for the d— d commissioners, things would be
better. He then asked me if I had much conyer*
sation with them ? I said, very littl^ that I had
A VOICE FROM ST. HELBNA. j271
observed a marked alteration in their conduct to^
wards me latterly ; instead of asking me numerous
questions as before, they rarely spoke^ except
upon common place subjects. He observed, that
" it was very likely they (the commissioners)
would tell the French the tenor of my reports on
Bonaparte's health, as the French had repre-
sented him to be worse than I had described him
to be.**
Major Gorrequer came to Longwood by signal,
and had a long conference with Count Bertrand.
llth. — Saw Napoleon in bed at seven, a. m.
Complained of having been restless all night, and
of increase of pain in his side and shoulder. Had
a return of palpitation. Sac which he attributed,
and probably with reason, to his having sat in the
sun for some time yesterday. I recommended
such remedies as were proper, some of which he
put in practice.
Saw him again at three. He had been in the
hot bath, and found much relief from it. His ap-
petite was considerably diminished.
Sir Hudson Lowe at Longwood, very busy in
measuring the distance at which the sentinels were
posted*
A ship arrived from the Cape with stores, and a
mail from England.
12th. — Saw Napoleon with his legs in a tub of
£73 A YOICB FROM 8T. BBUNjU
hot water. Told me that he felt uneasy, and di
cattivo umore (in bad humour).
Sir Hudson Lowe had a long interview with
Count Bertrand^ the latter endeavoured to explain
to him the point in dispute^ viz. that being obliged
to send all letters through him open to such per-
sons resident on the island, as he (the governor)
might allow to visit them, was considered an use-
less humiliation. If he ^vlshed to forward a letter
privately to England, or to carry on an improper
correspondence with an individual or individaals
in the island, he (Bertrand) having the power of
inviting a certain number of persons to visit Long*
wood, and to retain them there some hours (as
the governor said he would allow), would surely
embrace thaty as the proper moment to give them
such letters, or otherwise to communicate impro*
perly with them, rather than hazard the compro*
mising of himself and them, by sending a sealed let-
ter containing improper communications through
the orderly officer^ which^ should suspicions arisen
might be opened^ and ruin the person to whom it
was addressed. Sir Hudson Lowe> however,
would not understand this. Count Bertrand also
mentioned to him that the emperor considered a
free intercourse with the inhabitants, as the only
guarantee he had for his life.
When Migor Gorrequer was at Count Ber*
▲ TOICS FROM 8T. HELENA. 273
trand's on the lOth^ the latter informed him that
the gOTemoi's proceedings had been so illegal,
and involved in snch mystery and obscarity, that
some of the oflScers of the 53rd regiment con-
odving tfiat there might be criminal intentions in
vienTy had rignified to them not to be afraid, for that
in the 53rd regiment there were ndther assassins
Bor executioners to be found. Also that Sir
George CSockbum. had said soon after the ar«-
lival of Napoleon, ^* if I put sentinels in such a
manner, and insist upon such and such measures,
tilds mim will shut himself up and never stir out.
He will not live six months. I will not be the
neans of assassinating any body. I will arrange
matters so that he shall have liberty, and at the
sane time not afford the least chance of escaping
from the isiland, which is all that I can effect, or
indeed care about/'
I4thj — This morning, on presenting myself ac*
cording to custom to call upon Napoleon, I was
informed that be was asleep, and had left word
for me to go down to Count Bertrand. Had a
conversation with the latter, the purport of which
was, that the emperor had been given to under-
stand that I was in the habit of writing bulletins
of Ms health, daily, or at more distant periods,
and that it was his desire that every bulletin should
be shewn to him, the emperor, befi>re being sent.
Touiu 2k..!
K
^ A
274 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
That any person actii^ as bis pbytician must ne-
cessarily have a poi'tion of bis confidence ; and
that he would not consent to be styled General
Bonaparte in reports made by him, as sucb would
appear in Europe to be an acquiescence on his
part to the use of such a title, which* he would
sooner die than consent to ; that the words Vem-
pereur must be used, and that I had better make
the governor acquainted with it. I observed, that
with respect to the title of Vempereur, I knew that
it would be inadmissible.
Saw Napoleon afterwards, who told me that he
had always thought I might be required to make
out reports of the state of his health, especially
when labouring under indisposition; that, bow-
ever, as it was only a surmise, he did not take any
notice of it ; but that some days ago, Generals
Montholon and Gourgaud were asked how were
certmn symptoms (palpitations), which they were
totally ignorant he had ever been afflicted with, aa
he (Napoleon) had only made me acquainted with
tbem, and had professed their surprise ; that a re-
ply was made, stating that sucb symptoms were
described in the bulletins of health sent to the
governor. I informed Napoleon that J had often
made reports of the state of his health. Hi asked
to see one. I immediately brought him one > of
the lOtb. Looking over it, he observed the word
** general," and stud that he would nereci consent
A TOICB FkbM 8T. HBLENA. ^b
to be 8d styled by me^ or by any other person
acting as his physician ; that as such I must pos-
sess a oertun share of his confidence^ without
which I cotild hot be acquainted with the symp-
toms; thiBit a physician was to the body what a
confessdr was to the soul, and was bound to keep
snch confession equally sacred, unless permitted
to diyiilge it. l^or the future, therefore, he insisted
I should submit to hini all reports which I should
make of his health, previous to sending them to
the governor. That be did not wish to influence
me in their compilation ; on the contrary, if I
concdved any observations made by him to be in-
correct, I was not to insert them, but that I should
mt render an account of such symptoms as deli-
cfldy or other motives might induce him to wish
Aonld be kept secret. That after this warn-
ing, if I were to send any more bulletins without
having been previously shewn to him, it would
be acting the part of a spy and not that of a phy-
ncian, which, he added, was what the gaoler of
St. Helena wanted, and had done every thing in
his power to make me. TTiat my reports were
transmitted to the commissioners, and by them to
tbeir courts. That therefore he could not consent
to allow a person in my situation to style him '^ge-
neral,** in reports which might be sent to France,
m
iHiere he had been once sovereign ; or to the courts
27& A YOICX FRQAI 8Tt HBUNA«
1 ■ ■ ■
of Vienna and Petersburgh ; as coming from me, it
would appear to be an acquiescence on hisj^rt
to such title, which he would rather die thaa
consent to. Therefore I must give my word of
honour not to make any reports in future withwil
complying with what he thus required^ andlcaf^.
ing the original in Bertrand*s possession ; if I . dU
not consent to this arrangement, that I must; nok
write any more ; if I did, he would never see mci
again as a physician.
I replied that I never should be permitted hfi
the governor to style him Vempereur^ and ^ sngi-r
gested that I might use Napoleon or Napoleon IX*^
That as to shewing the reports to him, I most ^
first communicate with the governor, to which b^^
consented, but not to the appellation* In my.
verbal reports, he said he cared not if I called hijBL
generale, boja, or tiranno Bonaparte.
Communicated the purport of the above to Sir
Hudson Lowe at Plantation House. As I bad
foreseen, he decidedly refused to consent to the
use of the title required ; that he was willing. \m.
should be styled Napoleon Bonaparte. As ta
,^ shewing the reports to Napoleon previous to tbdr
being sent to him, he said that he saw no oljeo-
tion for the present ; however, it was a matter 1m.
could not decide upon directly, that it required
some consideration, &c. He added that it ww
some deep laid scheme of the commissioners.
A VOICB mOM ST. HELENA. J277
; Informed Napoleon in the evening of the aniswer
Mule by tiie governor. He observed that he could
not think of allowing himself to be insulted by his
physidatL That after the proposal he had made
to the English government to assume the incognitOj
to which no answer had been given, it was the
bdght of insult to insist upon naming him as they
liked. The more that they endeavoured to humi-
liate, the more tenacious would he be of the title.
(^Ho perdmto il tromT said he, ^per un punto
d^mwrCf e perderei la vita cento volte^ 8^c.) ** I lost
my throne for a point of honour, and would lose
my life a hundred times rather than allow myself
Co be debased by consenting to be denominated as
0iy oppressors pleased
After some time, I proposed dropping all titles
and using the word personage, which I said I
thought might remove all difficulties. He approved
of my suggestion, but said that patient (le malade)^
would answer better, and satisfy him, provided
the bulletins were first shown to him, and his con-
sent obtained to send thenu
It was signified to Count Bei-trand this day by
Sir Hudson Lowe, that Sir George Cockbum
used to cause the notes and papers which were
sent by the French to town to be shewn to him
before they were allowed to be transmitted to the
persons to whom they were directed.
A rOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
. — Communicated the proposal of yesterday
t Hudson Lowe, wbo refused bis consent,
I that he must be styled Napoleon Bonaparte,
eral Bonaparte, in any bulletins or reports
>f the state of bis health.
. — Had a conversation with Napoleon upon
; ri il of the governor to com-
I tion of calling him the patient
J. e observed that the governor
1 vt id to destroy the confidence which
I between him (Napoleon) and me as his
1. "When a man has not confidence in
lysi " said he, " it is useless to have one.
:e cannot be commanded. You ought
to consider yourself as of no nation. A physician
and a priest ought not to belong to any particular
nation, and be divested of all political opinions.
Treat me as if I were an Englishman. Chance
gave you to me ; and that is the reason I had
confidence in you. If I had not taken you, you
know that I should have had a French physician,
who would not have made bulletins without my
permission; therefore I insist that you shall not.
Would you, if you attended Lord Bathurst, write
bulletins of the state of bis complaints, to be
printed, or sent to any other than members of his
own family, without having first obtained bis con-
gent. I insist upon being treated in a similar
A TOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA. 279
manner; and that you drop all political considera-
tioDB as to irhat I am, or what I was ; and when I
consult yoo, act as yon would do to one of your
own countrymen who was ill.**
17M. — (Napoleon was lymg on his sofa^ looking
low and melancholy, with a cap of chicken-water
before him. Marchand told me that he had been
wry nnwell in the morning, and that he was
obliged to chafe his temples and forehead with
eau de Cologne. Napoleon wonld not answer the
inqniries which I made relative to his complmnts.
The Griffon sloop arrived this day, bringing the
intelligence of the loss of the Julie sloop of war,
on the island of Tristan d^Acunha, on the 2nd, iivlth
all the officers, except Captain Jones and two
midshipmen.
ISth. — Napoleon in his bath. Still persisted in
refusing to consult me on his complaints. Told
roe, that I had been remarked to go regularly
every Tuesday and Saturday to Plantation House ;
and that, were it not for the confidence he had
in me, he would, the moment it had been no-
ticed, have dispensed with my services ; as it was
evident from the regularity of the periods, that I
went by order of the governor. " The fact,** con*
tinued he, '^ is, that all this is only an artifice to
deprive me of medical assistance e d^arrivare piii
presto alia ^e I for it was well known, that as
2Sd A VOICB FROM 6T. HELBNA«
soon as I found it out, I would not submit to it,
or that no man of feeling or honour would do so.
But this man has no morale, no feeling He hai
been always accustomed to deserters and gallejr*
slaves; and nature never intended him for any
higher situation than a keeper of conyicts. I
shall not gladden his heart with a picture of my
malady in order that he may glut his enmity by
calculating how long I may suffer before die last
agony. You may tell him that J conceive his ob*
ject to be to deprive me of all medical aid, and by
that to arrive sooner at the end which he proposes^
That I do not esteem life so much as to allow jmjT
physician to be made a spy. Tell him that I said-
his views are directed to lessen the confidence I
had in you, and to make you a spy, or to make me
suspect that you are one. In fact,** continued Na-
poleon, " had it not been for the confidence which
I have in you, from the character Captain Mait-
land gave of you, and from my own obsenrationt
the measures of this governor would long ago
have induced me to tell you that I had no longer
any occasion for your services.**
Communicated part of the sentiments thus ex«
pressed by Napoleon to Sir Hudson Lowe, at
Plantation House, who after some hesitation an-
thorized me to say^ that for the future no more
bulletins would be demanded^ without first having
A, TOICm FBOM ST. HSLKNA. 281^
• •-■■ • J-- .. ^.«
BMde him (NopoleoD) aoqiudnted that flueh weft
aaked for.
Some conversation then ;j)a8sed aboat the peru
misMOO vhich had been granted by Sir iSeoi^e
Cockbnm to the French of sending sealed letters
to persons residing in the island. His excellency
maintained, that Sir George Cookbum had never
authorized snch a practice, that he had only tole^
raied it, and had greatly exceeded his powers in
siany respects.
19th. — Communicated this reply of the governor
to Napoleon ; after which, and after having as-
sured him that I would no send any bulletins
without having shewn them to him, he entered into
a crommonication with me touching his malady.
He was never free from dull pain, or an uneasy
Sensation in the right side ; his appetite was dimi^
Xiisbed; his legs still swelled, especially towards
ight ; occasional nausea ; great want of sleep.
There was some degree of anxiety evident,
and a cast of melancholy, probably caused by
^iis complaint, and increased perhaps by the in*
Xormation in the last paper sent him by Sir Hud-
son LiOwe, containing the decision of the allied
powers, that bis son should not succeed to the
duchies of Parma, &c.
22niL — ^Napoleon very unwell last night with
an attack partly of a nervous nature.«--Asked me
YOU IL 2 o
283 A TOICl FROM 8T. RIUNA.
if there was a intness present during the oobtciw
sation which I was obliged to hold twice a m&dk
with the gOTemor? I replied in theaffinnidve.
^ Then,** smd he, ^ Doctor yod will be iiMide to
speak as he likes. I will Tentore to say, that he
has a /roc^ verbal made out ev^er time joa ge
there, and such conversations as best suUs iiis views
made uid signed by his witness, which will he
produced against you hereafter. It would n«t
surprise me if he had a conversation ready made
before you arrive there. It places you in a very
dangerous situation.*
28tk. — Went to Plantation House, where ISr
Hudson Lowe, after some enquiries touching Na-
poleon's health, demanded if I had had any re-
markable conversations with Greneral Bonaparte^
what length of time they lasted, and on what sub*
jects ? This led to a discussion, in which his ex-
cellency was more than ordinarily violent and
abusive. Amongst other elegant expressions, he
said, that he conceived me to be a jackal, raop
ning about in search of news for General Bona-
parte.
In reply to this expression I said, that I would
neither be a jackal, nor a spy, nor informer, for him
or for any one else. ** What do you mean, sir,*
said he, ^' by a spy, npr an informer V* I said, that
if I complied with his directions to inform him ci
the conversations which passed between Napoleoa
A TOIOS FROM 8T. HBLBNA. 283
and wjwekt, I jhonl^ conceive myself to be both.
In a {MttV^cysm of lage, he said, that I was to con-
sider ^myself as prohibited from holding any com-
mmucation whatsoeve^r with NapoleiMi Bonaparte,
except upon medical subjects. That I was to
have 110 sort of communication with him upon
other points. I asked him to give me this order in
ifrriting, which he refused, and after some further
abuse, told me to wait outside of the room for
some time. In about a quarter of an hour I was
cdled in again, and informed by Sir Hudson
Lowe, that I was to conduct myself as before,
observing, however, that be (Sir Hudson) only
aatborized me to bold medical communication
Krith General Bonaparte ; that as to other subjects
X was myself responsible ;* that J was not to refuse
to answer General Bonaparte upon any subject on
'Which he might question me ; but that I was not to
^Msk him any questions other than medical ones^ &c.
Afterwards be asked what I thought myself
T>oiind to divulge ? I replied, as I had formerly
<]one when similar questions had been put to me.
lie asked if I did not think myself bound to com-
municate to him any abusive language made use
* It may be necessary to remind the reader that the gOTemor, in
<nie of his proclamations^ which will be found in the appendix^ had
^^nonnced the holding of " any unauthoris§d eommunieatioiia with
QflDanl Bonaparte/ to be felony.
291 A Tom. noM nr.. wasmju.
of by General Bonaparte, redpectin^'him} /I
swered, certainly not, unless ordered by
kon. He asked, ^ Why so sir ?** I replied,
I did not chnse to act the part of an incendiary ■*<
His excellency then denied that he had ever
me^to tell him all the conversations which
between General Bonaparte and myself, I piWrH
him in mind of his having told me at Longwood^ 4
and elsewhere, that it was necessary he shoal^n^^
know every thing that was said, as he might dra
conclusions and inferences which I would not
and therefore that it was essential for him to kno
every thing. After this, I demanded permisaon^i^^
to take the last directions he had given to me in
writing from his own dictation, to prevent the
possibility of a mistake, which he refused. He
then told me that he would in future dispense with
my attendance twice a week ; but that he ex-
pected me to confer with Mr, Baxter every week
on the state of Napoleon Bonaparte*8 health ; to
which I consented, as Napoleon had no objection
to verbal communications being made, and I need
not say that I was heartily glad that my presence
at Plantation House was dispensed with.
November 2nd. — Napoleon reclining on the sofa
with some newspapers Mng before him, and his
snuff-box in his hand.* He looked very melan-
* It hat beea asserted that Napoleon took snuff in tuefc
4L. TeiCB. FROM 8T. HSLBNA. 286
(^oly.apd low. After the osual inqoiriea about bis
kea)k^« my. advice was given as Qsnal^ in as forci-»
ble.a inanner as I couldj especially as to exercise
OB borsebaclu He replied that he felt no confix
deqqe in* the governor^ who he was convinced
Wpul^ find out some pretext to insult bim, or make
some insinuations before he went out four times.
•
^.That, letter^"* continued be^ ^' which you saw
at. Bertrand*s the other day^ came from him^ and
contained a paper with the account that my son
had been disinherited from the succession to the
duchies of Parma, &c. Now, this coming from
another . person would be nothing ; but as he in-
variably culls out all the news that might prove
agreeable, which he retains at Plantation House,
and sends whatever may wound my feelings, it is
easy to see the motives by which he is actuated.**
^ You see,** added he, with an emphasis, ^ that
he lost no time in sending that news to me. I
was. always prepared to expect something of the
kind from the wretches who compose the congress.
moderate qaantities, that he was in the hahit of cramming his
waistcoat pocket full of that article as no snuff-box could con*
tain a sufficiency for his consumption. — The reader may form
his own opinion of the correctness of this assertion when he is
informed^ that twelve pounds of the only kind of snuff he vmtA,
were brought by Marchand from Paris in July, 1815, of which
mhOT more thaa one half remained when I left St* Helena^ fai
288 A VOICE FROM ST. HIILETJA.
THey are afraid n( a prince, who U the choice of
the people. However, you may yet see a great
age ; that is, provided they continue to give
I od education, or that they do not assassi-
. If they brutify him by a bad educa-
:re is little hope. As for me, I may be
c red as c id, as already in the sepnlchre.
I am certain that re long, this body will be no
more. Senlo che la macchma loita, ma eke nan
pud durare. (I feel that the machine struggles,
hot cannot last)."
" I," added he, " could listen to the intelli-
gence of the death of my wife, of my son, or of all
my family, without change of feature. Not the
slightest sign of emotion, or alteration of counte-
nance would be visible. Every thing would ap-
pear indifferent and calm. But when alone in my
chamber, then I suffer. Then the feelings of the
man burst forth."
" I suppose," added he, " that that Montchena
is very glad to hear of my illness. By what
channel does he send his letters to France r* I
replied that he sent them through the governor and
Lord Bathurst. " Then they are all opened and
read in London by your ministers." I repliedj
that I was ignorant of their having recourse to
such practices. "Because," said Napoleon, ** yon
never have been in a situation to know any thing
^ votofl FBoir m; AitdENA. 287
abodtlt. I tdli you; that the despatdies of all
the^afeiB^baMftdbii^ ud ot^ that pass
Uitoii|ft»th6 poirt-qffiee^ are opened. Otto told me^
thatiwfaM'ili London^ be ascertakied this to be a
fiutt beyond a doabt."* I^ said that I had be^rd
that in all the states on the continent^ official
letters were opened.' '' Certainly they are^** an-
swered Napoleon^ bnt they have not the impu-
dence to deny it, like your ministers, although it
is carried to as great an extent among you as any
where else. In France,** continued the emperor,
^ao arrangement was made, so that all the letters,
sent by the ambassadors or other diplomratic cba*
racters, all their household, and all persons con-
nected with foreign affairs, were sent to a secret
department of the post-office in Paris, no matter in
^rbat^part of France they were put in. All letters
or despatches, in like manner, for foreign courts
or ministers, were sent to this office, where they
^were opened and deciphered. The writers some-
^iraes made use of several different ciphers, not
oontinning the same for more than ten lines, in
order to prevent their being understood. This,
liowever, did not answer, as in order to decipher
^he most ingenious and difficult, it was only ne-
cessary to have fifty pages of the same cipher,
"iduGhv from the extent of the correspondence, was
aeon to be hadt So clever were the agents em-
A- v<a» riK»¥ an HHivnA^
I and so Boon did they read the cipfaeiSf
ti criy only Sfly louis were paid for the dis*
pc if the means of deciphering the new one.
tng all the letters addressed to the dtplo-
:rsoos, the post-office police got acquainted
;ir correspondents, to whom all letters ad-
aressea si ei were treated in a similar
maimer. ; ami adors suspected that there
ipere some infi( committed upon their cor-
respondence, and to prevent it used genemUy to
change their cipher every three months. But this
only gave a little additional trouble. They sent
their letters sometimes to a post-office town a few
miles distant from where they actually resided,
thinking that they were very cunning, and would
thus escape observation, not knowingof the arrange-
ment I have mentioned to you. The ambassadors
of the lesser powers, such as Denmark, Sweden,
and even Prussia, used, through avaiice, to save
the expence of couriers, to send their despatches
through the post-office in cipher, which were
opened and deciphered, and the most important
part of their contents copied and communicated to
me (never to the ministers) by • • • * ". By these
means I knew the contents of the despatches that
Bemstorf, • • • * and others, sent to their courts,
before they arrived at their destination ; for they
were always sealed up, and sent on after we had
A VOICB FROM 8T. HELENA. 289
done with them. Several of them, especially those
of Bernstorf were full of injurions reflections
upon me, censures on my conduct, and fabricated
conversations with me. How often have I laughed
within myself, to see them licking the dust from
under my feet at my levee, after having read in
the morning, the hHises they had written of me
to their sovereigns. We used, also, frequently to
discover very important matters which they had
communicated to them in confidence from the am-
bassadors of Russia and Austria, and of your
country, (when you had one in Paris,) who always
sent their despatches by couriers of their own,
which prevented me from being acquainted with
the nature of them. Through the correspondence
of the lesser powere, I became acquainted with the
opinions of the greater. The cleverness of those
who conducted this machinery was astonishing.
There was no species of writing which they could
not imitate perfectly ; and in the post-office were
kept seals similar to those used by the ambassadors
of all the powers of Europe, independent of an im-
mense number of others, belonging to families of
different countries. If they met with a seal for
which they had not a fac-simile, they could get
one made in twenty-four hours. This arrange-
ment,** continued he, **was not an invention of
mine. It was first begun by Louis the Four-
VOL. II. 2 p
290 A VOICB FROM fiT. HSWKA«
teeDth, and some of the grandchildren of the
agents originally employed by him, filled in my
time situations which had been transmitted to
them from their fathers. But,"* added he, ^Castle-
reagh does the same in London. All letters to
and from diplomatic persons, which pass throngk
the post-office, are opened, and the contents for-
warded to him, or some other of your ministeri^
and they must be aware that a similar practice lA
followed in France.**
I asked if it was a general rule to open at tb0
French post-office letters addressed to persofli
not diplomatic. "Rarely," said he, "and ne?eti
unless when a man was strongly suspected. Tbei^
the first thing that was done, was to open e¥<
letter directed to him, by means of which his ca
respondents were discovered, and all letters
dressed to them inspected; but this was an odlov^^
measure, and very seldom resorted to with French^
men. As to foreigners, enemies of France, i^
was proper to adopt every means of becomin|^
acquainted with their secret machinations.**
Napoleon then told me that he had resolvecf
for the future only to have one regular meal daily
at about two or three o'clock. For some time
past he has eaten very sparingly.
3rd. — ^Napoleon much the same. According to
his general custom, when newspapers were before
him, he asked me now and then the meaning of
A TOICS FROM ST. HELENA. 291
any word which he did not comprehend. He
strongly censured the conduct which the allied
powers had practised in persecuting his brother
Lucien^ who was a literary character, a man who
had never commanded, and who had endeavoured
to withdraw himself from political affairs. " It
is," added he, ^'from a consciousness of their own
tyranny, and the fears resulting from a know-
ledge that they have violated the rights of nations,
and have acted contrary to the spirit of the age,
and the will of the people. For persecuting me,
they might allege some reason. They might say
that I had been a sovereign and a tyrant, and that
it was necessary for the repose of the world ; but
nothing can justify such acts of oppression and
barbarity towards him. The principle of utility
upon which they act once established, God knows
to ifHiat length it may be carried. Upon a similar
pretext the French might justify the assassination
of Wellington and his whole army. It is a prin-
ciple which will make kings tremble upon their
thi-ones."
Some conversation now took place about Lord
Cochrane, and the attempt which his lordship had
made to capture or destroy the ships in the Char-
rante. I said that it was the opinion of a very dis-
tingaished naval officer whom I named, and who
was well known to him, that if Cochrane had
393 A VOICE FROM 5T. HELENA.
been properly suppoi-ted, he would have destroyed
the whole of the French ships. " He could not
only have destroyed them," replied Napoleon,
" but he might and would have taken theni ont,
bad your admiral supported him as he ought to
have done. For, in consequence of the signal
made by L'Allemand," (I think be said) " to the
ships to do the best in their power to save them-
selves, sauve qui pent in fact, they became panie-
Ktruck and cut their cables. The terror of the
bHilots (fire-ships) was so great that they actually
threw their powder overboard, so that they could
have offered very little resistance. The French
admiral was an iinhecille, but yours was just as
bad. I assure you, that if Cochrane had beco
supported, he would have taken every one of the
ships. They ought not to have been alarmed
by your hrHlols, but fear deprived them of their
senses, and they no longer knew how to act in
their own defence.
When asking the emperor some medical ques-
tions, he recounted the following anecdote, "About
seven years ago, the Persian ambassador in Paris
fell sick, and ordered a physician to be sent for.
The messenger not properly comprehending what
he meant, thought that be wished to see a minis-
ter of the treasury, to whom he went and in-
formed him that the Persian aml>assador desired
to speak to bim. The minister surprised, said.
A VOICE FBOM ST. HELENA. 293
* diis is a curious mode of acting, but those bar-
barians know nothing of etiquette, and perhaps he
has something important to communicate.* On
his arrival^ the ambassador held out his wrist,
that he should feel his pulse, whilst another great
fellow with a turban brought a chamber utensil,
which he held tip to his iM)se for inspection^ You
may judge how the minister was confounded at
8«ch a reception,"
Sth. — Napoleon remained in bed very late, not
having had any sleep during the night. Found
him not risen at eleven.
Saw him once more in the course of the day,
and bad some conversation about his brother Lu-
Gien. He observed again on the cruelty and in-
justice of persecuting a literary character who did
not meddle in politics, and who had even quar*
relied with him. To persecute a man from whom
no danger was to be apprehended two years after
he (Napoleon) had been sent to Sl Helena, was
the height of injustice. Such fear of an individual
shews that they are conscious of acting contrary
to the will of the people. " Les tyrans tremhlent
povr luers seuilsT Here he made a quotation
about Pluto trembling lest the earth should open
and expose to view all the horrors of the infernal
regions. *' What a degradation," added he, " to
flee the ambassador of one of the greatest powers
294 A VOICE PROM ST. RKLEXA.
in Europe persecuting an individual who hasnerer
been, nor ever desired to be a sovereign. Qwmdd
io sard morto e forse il giomo non i lantano Jokk
Bull mi vendicherd. (When I am dead^ and per-
haps the day is not far off, John Bull will revenge
me.)"
Napoleon then recounted to n^ some prirate
anecdotes of Lucien.
He also told n>e, that one Ignatio Lorn, (I think
was the name,) a Corsican and a foster brother of
his, had early in life embraced the English party,
and entered their sea-service. He was ignorant,
though un hravissimo uomo, and an excellent sea-
man. He commanded an English storeship, and
landed in ,* where he went disguised as a pea-
sant to see the French consul. ^^ When he came
into his presence,** c<Mitinued Napoleon, " he threw
off his cappotto, shewed the English uniform, and
told who he was. He made many inquiries con-
cerning me, without however offering to enter my
service. The consul did not believe lum^ and
wrote a long history to Paris of an impostor who
had presented himself to him, and asserted himself
to be the emperor*s foster brother. He was much
astonished to find that I admitted it to be perfectly
true. It is surprising that during all the height of
* The name of the place b illegible in the mimngCTtyt of mg
▲ YOICB FROM ST. HELBNA. 296
my power, this roan never asked a favour of me^
although in his childhood he loved me, and knew^
that since my elevation, I had loaded his mother
with fiivonrs and money.**
6th. — Napoleon in rather better spirits, other-
wise mnch the same. Spoke to me about an ar-
ticle which he had seen in the papers, stating that
Talma had paid a reckoning for him at a tavern
once^ when through the want of money he had
offered his sword in pledge. This he declared to
be untme^ and that he did not believe Talma had
ever said so. *' I did not know Talma personally/*
continued he, ''until I was first consul. I then
&voured and distinguished him very much, as a
man of talent and the first in the profession. I
Qometimes sent for him in the morning, to dis-
€M>arse with me while I was at breakfast. The
libellers said that Talma taught me how to act
*the king. When I returned from Elba, I said
one morning at my breakfast to Talma, who was
present with some other men of science, ' Eh hien^
Talma, so they say that you taught me how to sit
Tipon my throne. C'est un signe que je my tiens
Jfienr
Count Balmaine and Baron Sturmer had a
long interview with General Montholon yesterday.
"They rode up to the inner gate, where they re-
mained for some time looking in. Signals are made
996 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
to Plantation House whenever tliey uotne near
Longwood, and a spy is generally sent to dog
tbem from the town; but no direct attempts are
made to prevent their intercourse with the inhabi-
tants of Loo^ood.
8th. — Napoieon observed that I walked lame,
and asked if I had the gout. I replied in the ne-
gative, and said, that it had been caused yes-
terday by a light boot; that 1 never had the gout,
and never had been confined to my bed a day in
my life by illness, lie then asked if my father
had ever iiad that disejise, and said that he would
prescribe for my present complaint, by ordering
me to eat nothing, drink barley-water, and keep
my leg up on a sofa during the day. He then
made some observations about his son, and said,
that his having been disinherited from the suc-
cession to Parma gave him little or no uneasiness.
*• If he lives," added he, " he wili be something.
As to those contemptible little states, I wouUi ra-
ther see him a private gentleman, with enough to
eat, than sovereign of any of them. Periiaps it
may however grieve the empress to think that lie
will not inherit after her ; but it does not give me
the smallest trouble."
" The emperor Francis," added he, " whose
head is crammed with ideas of high birth, was very
anxious to prove that I was descended from some
A VOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA. 297
of the old tyrants of Treviso ; and after my mar«
riage with Marie Louise, employed divers persons
to search into the old musty records of genealogy,
in which they thought they could find something
to prove what they desired. He imagined that he
had succeeded at last, and wrote to me, asking
my consent that he should publish the account
with all official formalities. I refiised. He was
so intent upon this favourite object, that he again
applied, and said, ^ Laissez-moi /aire,* that I need
not appear to take any part in it. I replied, that
this was impossible, as if published, I should be
obliged to take notice of it ; that I preferred being
the son of an honest man, to being descended from
any little dirty tyrant of Italy. That I was the
Rodolph of my family.**
" There was formerly,** added he, " one Buona-
Ventura Bonaparte, who lived and died a monk.
The poor man lay quietly in his grave; nothing
was thought about him until I was on the throne
of France. It was then discovered that he had
been possessed of many virtues, which never had
been attributed to him before, and the Pope pro-
posed to me to canonize him. Saint Pere, said
I, ^ pour r amour de Dieu epargnez-moi le ridicule
de cela ; you being in my power, all the world
will say that I forced you to make a saint out pf
my family,*"
VOL. n. 2 Q
298 A VOICB FROM ST. HBLBftA.r
25th. — Signal made for me to go to Fiantaticni
House, whei*e I found Sir Hudson Lowe, who
interrogated me upon various matters that had
taken place at Longwood, and the conversatioiis
I had had with Napoleon. I replied^ that I had
formed a determination not to meddle with what did
not concern me, and only troubled myself about
my professional pursuits. He said that I must
have had some conversations not medical with
him, and demanded to be informed of the subject
of the conversations I had with General Bona*
parte. I replied, that in the first place, nothing
important had taken place ; that in the next, I did
not think mjrself bound to repeat the subject ol
such conversations as I had with Napoleon, nnless
peimitted, or unless matters came to my knowledge
connected with my allegiance, or of great impor-
tance to my own government. Sir Hudson re-
plied, ** You are no judge, or, of the importance
of the conversations you may have with Gene^
ral Bonaparte. I might consider several sub-
jects of great importance, which you consider as
trifling or of no consequence.* I observed, that if
I was not at liberty to use my own discretion or
judgment, I must necessarily repeat to him every
thing I heard, which would place me in the situa-
tion of a man acting a most dishonorurable and
disgraceful part. The governor replied, •'that it
A TOICB FROM ST. RSLSNA. 299
my duty to inform him of what circumstances
came to my knowledge^ and of the subject of my
conversations with General Bonaparte ; for if I did
not, it was easily in his power to prohibit me from
holding any communication with him, except on
medical subjects, and then only when sent to for
that purpose. That it was a duty I owed to the
Eoglish government.** I answered, that it would
be acting the part of a spy, an informer, and a
wUniton. That I never understood the govern-
ment had placed me about him for other than me-
dical purposes ; that my duty did not require me
to commit dishonourable actions ; and that I would
not do so for any person. Sir Hudson remained
Idlent for a few moments^ eyeing me furiously, and
asked what was the meaning of the word mauton 9
I replied, ^^ Mouton means a person who insinu-
ates himself into the confidence of another, for the
purpose of betraying it* Sir Hudson then broke
oat into a paroxysm of rage ; said that I had
given him the greatest possible insult in his official
capacity that could be offered, and concluded
with ordering me to leave the room, saying, that
be would not permit a person who had made use
of such language to sit in his presence. I told
him that I did not voluntarily come into nor ever
would have entered his house, unless compelled
to do so. He walked about in a frantic manner,
300 A VOICE FROM 8T« HBUNA«
repeating in a boisterous tone, ^ Leave the room
sir^** which he continued bawling out for some mo*
ments after I had actually quitted it.
The following narrative may convey some idei
of the manner in which Lieutenant-general Sr
Hudson Lowe, K. C. B. &c. &c. was dapedi
when he had the command of an important tat^
tress. It was communicated to me at LongwoodU
principally by the maftre d^hStel^ Cipriani, whosei
name was also Franceschi, but which latter bi^
never assumed at St. Helena, for reasona niiidfe.
will be seen hereafter.
In 1806, Sir Hudson, (then lieutenant-colond
Lowe,) was entrusted with the command of thfr
island of Capri, which is situated in the bay of^
Naples, and with the secret service, or in plainer
terms, the espionage of the continent, at least as
&r as regarded the Mediterranean. In the island
he commanded, he generally received intelligence
from the city of Naples, from which it is distant
only a few miles. It was most generally brought
to him by means of a fishing-boat, commanded by
a man named Antonio, who went out at night
under pretence of fishing. Sir Hudson employed
as a spy Antonio Suzzarelli. a Corsican and a
man of talent, who had been educated as a lawyer
along with Pozzo di Borgo, and Saliceti, the then
minister of police at Naples. Suzzarelli, had for-
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 301
merly been an officer in the English service. Ma«
resca a Neapolitan, and Criscuolo, another Nea-
politan, were also employed by him on a similar
service; and Cassetti,* a Neapolitan lieutenant*
colonel of dragoons, was spy for Queen Caroline
of Sicily. Suzzarelli remained faithful to Sir
Hadson Lowe for about twenty days, viz. from
the 19th or 20th of January, to the 10th of Fe-
bruary, when some despatches of his were taken,
in a boat going over to Capri. At a tavern, he
met Cipriani Franceschi, who was then in the con-
fidential service of Saliceti, supposed to be his
natural son, and generally known by the name of
Franceschi. Being countrymen and intimate ac-
quaintances, Suzzarelli confided to Franceschi
the nature of his employment, informing him also,
that he received a certain sum monthly from the
£nglish government. Cipriani proposed to him
to apparently continue to furnish information to
the governor of Capri, and receive his salary, but
Sit the same time really to communicate every
thing to Saliceti, and obey his directions ; adding,
that he then would be paid double what he re-
c^eived from the English ; and, insinuating, that
should he refuse, in all probability he would in
* AU those respectable persons^ I believe> are now in existence^
and one of them I have reason to believe eDjoj% a pension from his
toi^mifB government for his ttrvicts.
302 A VOICB FROM ST. HBUNA.
two or three weeks be discovered and shot. Su*.
zarelli who was no novice, took the hint immedi •
ately, closed with the proposal, and was brought
before Saliceti from whom he received instmctioos
how to act. Suzzarelli also brought over Ma-
resca and Criscuolo to the same mode of actings
partly by promises and partly by threats. Gas-
setti also became a spy on the queen for Saliceti.
All of them were paid double what they re-
ceived from the other parties. Matters were or*
dered so, that whenever Suzzarelli received a des-
patch from Sir Hudson Lowe, it was immediatdy
brought to Saliceti in the state in which it had
been received ; who, after reading it, dictated such
answers as he thought proper. Sometimes Suz-
zarelli was permitted to tell the truth. For ex-
ample, while the French troops were in great
force in Naples, he was directed to mention their
number. Whenever it related to an affair which
Saliceti did not like to answer directly, he caused
the master of the boat and his crew to be arrested
and thrown into confinement for some days, when
after some forms of examination had been gone
through, they were released. This also gave an
opportunity for Suzzarelli to exercise his talents
in obtaining more money from Sir Hudson^ by
inventing tales of the trouble he had been at^
and the expenses he had incurred in paying bribes^
▲ TOICB FROM ST. HELBNA. 303
to save those poor devils, who otherwise would
have been shot. In this manner the whole of the
information furnished to the British government^
was only such as answered the ends of Saliceti,
and consequently of the emperor Napoleon, ex-
cept what trifling intelligence Sir Hudson could
glean from the master of the boat, and his sons,
who were faithful to him, but were ignorant of
every thing of importance. Commissions of the
most difficult nature were frequently sent by Sir
Hudson Lowe to Suzzarelli to execute, which by
order of Saliceti, were done with the greatest
punctuality and despatch. Amongst others, there
was one for some expensive French watches for
Queen Caroline, scarce books, and all recent pub-
lications for Sir Hudson, particularly a copy of
Las Cases' Atlas, (then called Le Sage's), to ob«
tain which he was very anxious. This also af-
forded honest Suzzarelli another opportunity of
gaining money from Sir .Hudson, for, although be
was ordered by Saliceti to furnish the articles at
prime cost, with a reasonable charge for expenses,
in order to prevent suspicion, he never failed to
lay on from fifty to a hundred per cent, under dif-
ferent pretences. He practised smuggling also
to a considerable extent. Sir Hudson frequently
paying for the articles he received in English or
colonial goods, which Suzzarelli used afteiwards
to sell at Naples, at a large profit.
S04 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA.
Sir Hudson, in his cunning, had recourse to an
extraordinary mode of sending over the wages to
Suzzarelli, Criscuolo^ and Maresca, which last in
the fulness of his heart, he used to call his chain-
pion, (suo campionej. They were paid in gold,
which was generally sent in loaves of bread, that
the cautious Sir Hudson had baked in his own
house, and put the money in with his own hands,
lest his spies should be discovered by any spies of
the Neapolitan police. The loaves had the appear*
ance of bread for the use of the boatmen, while
fishing at night. As soon as they were landed, they
were brought up by Suzzarelli to Saliceti ; the
latter insisting that every kind of correspondence
should be first submitted to him. By means of
Suzzarelli the French government became ac«
quainted with the real destination of the army
under General M^Kenzie Fraser, and the fleet
under Sir J. Duckworth.
Suzzarelli even offered to procure Sir Hudson
some soldiers to recruit the Corsican regiment in
Capri ; and some I believe were actually des-
patched over to him, to corrupt the foreigners
under his command. While the attack upon
Capri was meditating, Suzzarelli had the art to
persuade Sir Hudson Lowe that it was meant
against the little island of Ponza ; accordingly to
defend which the English frigate Ambuscade, and
the greatest part of the gun-boats were sent ; thus
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 305
leaving the passage to Capri defended only by a
small force. To encourage this belief, an embargo
was Isud upon all vessels in Naples ; but some fish-
ing boats, manned with persons in the employ of
Saliceti, were sent out at night, purposely to fall
in with some of Sir Hudson's boats, and to assure
tbem that the expedition was meant for Ponza.
In order to embroil the British government and
Sir Hudson with Queen Caroline, letters were
fabricated by a Neapolitan, called Don Antonio^
as if from her to Cassetti ; whilst others purporting
to be written by Sir Hudson, were forged by an
Cnglish schoolmaster residing at Naples ; these
last confidentially stating, that the object of the
English was to get the royal family out *of Sicily,
and send them to England on a pension, that they
might subsequently take possession of the coun-
try; and the first containing complaints of Sir
Hudson by the queen, and invectives against him
and the English. Those wretches also, to afibrd
amusement to Saliceti, and to themselves, used
sometimes to create a quarrel between Sir Hudson
and the Prince of Canosa, who commanded in
Ponza, by means of forged letters, abusing each
other, which they caused to fall into their hands.
They usually assembled at night to enjoy them-
selves, drinking and laughing at their dupe Sir
Hudson, whose health they toasted out of derisicNO^
VOL. II. 2 R
whilst, in the midst of their revels, they were
hatching new means of deceiving him. Even Sa-
liceti himself sometimes went to listen and laugh
at their schemes.
Some time in 1807, or 1808, Suzzarelli was to
go to Vienna, to execute a mission for Saliceti,
and determined to make Sir Hudson Lowe pay
the expenses of the journey. The chief object of
this mission was to sound the English ambas-
sador, and Pozzo cli Borgo, then at Vienna. Suz-
zarelli went to Sir Hudson Lowe, whom be per-
suaded that at Vienna be could procure informa-
tion of the greatest importance, and obtained from
him six thousand francs for the expenses of bia
journey, &c. with strong letters of recommenda-
tion. He then went to Vienna, where he was
very weil received by the English ambassador,
from whom be procured some important intelU-
gence. He also obtained from him an order to
have the salaries paid which were given to other
English agents and officers who resided on the
continent. With Pozzo di Borgo, he did not
succeed, as the wary Corsiean could not believe
that it was possible for him to deceive Saliceti, as
he pretended to have done. Suzzarelli in trying
to ingratiate himself into Pozzo di Borgo's confi-
dence, boasted of his influence over Saliceti, say-
ing, Iq facciQ intendere a Saliceti tutto do che
A TOICB FROM ST. HELKNA. 307
voslio* ( I make Saliceti believe whatever I like).
^ VH' ti4 cmti questo 9 (Dost thou tell this to me?,'
replied Pozzo di Borgo, bowing down to the
ground. All the art of Suzzarelli conid not ex-
tract a single secret from him, although the letter
of recommendation given by Sir Hudson Lowe,
represented him as a man in whom every confi-
dence could be placed, and in the passport which
he received afterwards from the English ambassa-
dor, he was styled // Signore Barone SuzzarelK.
On his return to Naples, he was asked by Saliceti,
'* Ebbene cosa hai tirato da Pozzo di Borgo ?*
(Well, what hstst thou extracted from Pozzo di
Boi^?) "Ah,** replied Suzzarelli, shrugging up
his shoulders, ^^ dui birbi insiemcy non si guadagna
niente^ (two rogues together, nothing is gained).
He then told Saliceti, that Pozzo di Borgo had sent
his compliments to him. Saliceti replied, ^^ Suz-
zarelli, I know that thou hast told me many lies,
Dnt this is the greatest that ever has escaped thy
lips, accustomed as they are to lying. I well
know Pozzo di Borgo : I have been the means of
banishing him from his country, and of proscrib-
ing him ; so that through my means, if caught in
France, he would be shot. Thinkest thou, then,
* Tlie Italiaii in this narrative is given as delivered by Ciprt-
aiii, wh« generally conversed in not the most pure or correct Ian-
308 A VOICE FROM 8T. HBUNA.
that so proud a man as Pozzo di Borgo, and i
Corsican, would send his compliments to one who
has done him so much injury. None but the
meanest and vilest of men would be capable of it,
and I well know Pozzo di Borgo to be one of the
proudest on earth.** In fact, Suzzarelli* acknow-
ledged afterwards, that he had invented it.
Suzzarelli had at one time, persuaded Sir
Hudson Lowe to promise to come over to Naples,
and meet him in a little house on the beach, be-
longing to Maresca, where he would have seen
Saliceti in disguise, who had decided not to seiie
him, as he conceived that it would be difficult to
find another governor, who would allow himself ta
be gulled so egregiously, and would, besides, have
prevented them from deriving any more services
from Suzzarelli. ^^ Vorrei vedere questo colonel-
lo tuo^ said Saliceti, ^^fammelo vedere. Un uomo
pud lasciarsi ingannare per qualche mese, ma di
lasciarsi coglionare a questo segno per tanti anni^
hisogna essere hen hestiar (I should like to see
* After Saliceti's deaths Suzzarelli confessed that he had nerer
succeeded in deceiving him but once, and even then not complete-
ly; as Saliceti^ in giving him some money for the expenses of hk
journey to Vienna^ told him that it was not given on account of the
services he had then rendered the public, as he^ in the bottom of his
heart, believed that most of what he had told him was false, but be-
cause he knew that he must get money by some means, for ths
tence of his family and himself.
A T01CE FROM ST. HELENA. 309
this colonel of thine. Let me see him. A man
may allow himself to be deceived for some months,
but he who suflers himself to be humbugged so
grossly for so many years, must be a beast in-
deed.) "Oh," replied Suzzarelii, with an air of
gravity, " non d tanto bestla, e talento mior (Not
quite so great a blockhead, it is my cleverness.)
Something, however, induced Lowe to change his
intentions.
Murat being desirous of seizing all the English
merchandize, of which there was a great quantity
in Naples, under the name of American, and, at
the same time, not wishing to quarrel with the
Americans, employed Suzzarelii to find out the
means of ascertaining what was really American,
and what was not. Suzzarelii went to Sir Hud-
son Lowe, whom he persuaded that he should be
able to render essential service to the British go^
vemment, if he were possessed of the means of
distinguishing the English passports from the real
American ones. Sir Hudson gave him two, one
real and American, and the other counterfeit and
English, shewing him how to distinguish between
them, the only difference being in the stamp. In
the English, the initial was exactly in the centre
of the stamp ; in the American, though the letter
was the same, it was placed a little underneath.
Furnished with these Suzzarelii departed, and in
310 A VOICB FROM ST. RBUINiu
the beginning of 1810, a general seizure of the
ships was made by Murat, and all those fooBd
with passports in the manner described abovi^
were confiscated. While Saliceti livedo hot finr
were seized, as he wished to keep Sozzarelli oi
terms with Lowe.
It was by means of the money acquired by tht
seizure and confiscation of the above-menti<»ed
vessels, that King Joachim in a great measure
equipped and paid the expedition undertak»
against Sicily in the year 181L Saliceti became
acquainted with almost every thing that passed at
the court of Palermo, by means of the Duchess of
C * * *, with whom he intrigued. She was dau|^ter
to the Princess C***, wife to the Sicilian ambastt-
dor in * * *, and prima datna to Caroline, and her
confidant. Her husband wrote her an account of
every circumstance that took place at the court
of * * * *. She hated the French, and Saliceti
pretended that he was a republican, and detested
the French party. She established a correspond-
ence with her mother, who communicated every
thing to her, for the disclosure of which she recdved
one thousand scudi per month from Saliceti.
In 1808 or 9, a Neapolitan named Mosca, and
in rank a captain, was sent over from Capri by
Queen Caroline to assassinate Napoleon's bro-
ther^ Joseph, at that time king of Naples, Ia
A TOICB FROM ST. HELENA. fill
<»rder to stimulate him to the deed^ she gave him
a lock of her hair^ and a letter in her own hand*
writing, engaging to make him a colonel as soon
as what he promised was effected. Independent
of this, he received a letter from the Princess V ♦ ♦
T***, confidant to Qneen Caroline, specifically
pointing out what he was to do ; viz. to rid his
country of the usurper and giving him every as-
lorance, that the '^good queen his mistress^ would
fidfil all her promises to him!** He accordingly
left Capri, in a felucca, provided with all the ne-
eessary passports ; in one of which, signed by an
English officer, there were instructions requiring
fliat all British officers should afford every assist-
ance to the bearer, who was proceeding on a
Meetet mission, for the good of the service of King
Ferdinand. He landed at Molino, near to a
country-house of Joseph*s and his intention was
to have assassinated him while walking in the
garden. While lurking about in expectation of his
victim, he met with a girl, whose appearance struck
him, and to whom he offered some pieces of gold
to consent to his wishes. Not succeeding in this,
he told her that he had come over from the queen
to execute a grand object, and that if she would
consent to bis desires, he would make her a great
* ThoM two letters^ as well as the passports^ I saw in the ori*
glnal, lince mj return firom St. Helena.
313 A VOICB FROM 8T. HELENA^
woman. The girl became alarmed, and woold
not consent, notwithstanding the sight of his gol^
and the promises he made. Information was
given to the police, who proceeded immediatdy
to the spot. Two of Mosca's associates weie
killed, and he himself seized, after a desperate
resistance. The letters, the lock of hair, the arms
which were found upon him, and the girl, were
produced against him before a militaiy commit
sion. He said, in his defence, that he merely had
come over to throw himself at Joseph's feet, and
ask pardon and permission to return to Naples,
after condemnation, however, he confessed his
real intentions. He died with great courage, and
refused to disclose the names of his accomplices.
Some time after this. Queen Caroline sent over
a Neapolitan apothecary named Gherardi, (or
Visconti,) and his two 6ons, to assassinate Sali-
ceti. For this purpose he went to Ponza, from
whence he proceeded to Capri, and from Capri to
Naples, where he landed at night, taking with
him a sort of catamaran, in shape and size simi-
lar to a ship's buoy. He managed matters so well
as to get admittance into Saliceti's house, and even
to hire a room under the stairs as an apotbecary*8
store, in which he placed his machina Saliceti^
who had been at a party at the house of the Prin-
cess ***, did not return until about twelve or
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. S13
one o*clock, alighted from his carriage, and ac-
cording to his usual custom, bounded up stairs
with great quickness : this saved his life : for the
incendiary's machine did not explode until he had
passed through four rooms of his suite of apart*
ments. Cipriani was with him at the moment of
the explosion. Upwards of thirty of the rooms
were either blown to pieces or materially injured,
and the palace nearly reduced to ruins, under
which was buried one of Salicetrs daughters (now
the Duchess of ***)-|- where she remained for
some hours, but at last was discovered by Ci-
priani hearing the moans of some person. While
proceeding on in the direction of the voice, he
tumbled through the floor down to the room be-
low, fortunately without sustaining any injury,
^ivbich brought him nearer to the suflferer. An
silarm was given, and after considerable difficulty
^be young lady was extricated^ half dead, from
"under the mass of ruins. Some of the rafters had
formed a cross over her, which was the means of
saving her life. Gherardi and his sons were ar-
rested and tried, the sons shot, but the father, in
consequence of his advanced age, escaped with
perpetual imprisonment.
Immediately after this event. Sir Hudson Lowe
t This lady is now alive^ and resides in Naples. In 1819^ I saw
ajid conversed with her sister at Rome.
VOL. II. 2 s
31-1 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
wrote a letter to Saliceti, professing his entire igno^
raace of it, and Ins detestatioa of sitmlar attempts.
Saliceti, soapectin; the drnm-^Dajor of the regi-
ment of VaJKS then in iNaplcs, to be an agmt of
Queen Caroline, eni{dog«d Stmarelli to discover
h. Accordingly SnszareHi, iHth whom the dram-
majfv was intimately acqdainted, embraced an op^
portnnily oT addresnng him one day while be wtfs
walking^ abont, lookhig very discotrtentedly, and
omnmenoedifoyinTeighing against the tyranny to
wbiofa they were sut^ect^, and how happy be
■boold be to get away from a t^ace where no
Mie'fl life was safe for a moment ; professiog bis in-
tentioa of effecting fais escape as soon as be conld
doit without miming the risk of being seized and
shot by the police, of which he said lie was in
great dread. The poor drum-mnjor heartily joined
him, professed his own disgust for the govern-
ment they were under, and his attachment to that
of Caroline, adding, that he would also get away
as soon as possible. Upon this Siizzarelli pro-
posed to him to induce twenty or thirty of liis re-
giment to enter into either Caroline's or the Eng-
lish service, telling him to make them sign a i)aper
purporting their readiness to enter, and giving
him two hundred dollars to forward his plans,
with a promise, that as soon as they were ready,
he would procure them a passage over to Capri.
A yoics ntoK «r. r^lbna. 315
The dram-major went amongst bis friends in the
te^menty and used all his endeavours to inveigle
fiome to etkter into his projects. He could not^
however, succeed with more than ten or twelve,
who were so illiterate that they could neither
read nor write, and he was obliged to write their
names himself, along with those of his two sons.
He then met Suzzarelli according to appointment,
acquainted him with how far he had succeeded,
and shewed him the list of names. Suzzarelli com-
municated this to Saliceti, recommending him at
the same time to wait until he had procured more
victims. Saliceti rejected this, replying, that it
was the business of the police by every means to
discover traitors, but not to encourage or mahe
them ; on the contrary, that his duty was to nip
every thing of the kind in the bud, and not know-
ingly to allow such practices to be carried on.
The drum*major and his associates were imme-
diately arrested, the paper with the names found
upon him, and, a short time afterwards, himself,
his sons, and some of the others were banged.
Suzzarelli lay concealed for several days, and
then went to see the widow of the unfortunate
drum-major, told her that her husband had nearly
been his ruin ; that he had come to him to re-
quest assistance in getting away from Naples,
wUch he in his friendship had oromised to afford.
316 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
btt that' all bad been discovered ; that be bad been
taken ap, tbrown into prison, and should have
been hanged, if lockily for him a conntrymaa oi
)iis had not been in Sali(%ti*B office, who had in-
terested htmsetf to save bis life. This he told so
plausibly, that the poor woman implicitly believed
what be sud, looked upon him as a benefactor,
and ever afterwards, when in trouble, used to have
recourse to Suzzarelli for advic^ who occasionally
gave her a dollar or two. Two or three days after
this abominable treachery, Cipriani sfud to Snx-
xareUi, "What n scetera^ (miscreant) thou art,
finzzarellL How canst thon reconcile to thyself
being the cause of the death of those poor fellows
who were hanged through thy deceit ?" " Bah,"
replied Suzzaixlli, " Sono porcl NapoVUanacd"
(they arc Neapolitan hogs).
In 1809, Saliccti wishing to discover when the
paclict from England was expeeted to arrive in
Sicily, set Snzzarelli to work upon Colonel Loire.
Suzzarelli accordingly wrote to the colonel, stat-
ing that as the news fhey had received from Eng-
land by the last English papers had been very
distiessing, and had produced bad effects, by dis-
couraging those partizans of the English who be-
lieved it; that even those who did not credit
it to the full extent thought that something un-
favourable had occurred ; he therefore requested
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 317
the colonel to communicate immediately to him
any news that he might have received, that he
might be able to keep up the spirits of the party.
Sir Hudson Lowe replied, that he was very right
to use every exertion not to allow the loyal senti-
ments of the faithful subjects of King Ferdinand
to be lowered ; but at that moment he had no au-
thentic intelligence to communicate ; that, how-
ever, he expected to a certainty that the packet
from England would arrive in a few days, when
he would take care to forward to him forthwith
every intelligence that was favourable. As soon
as Suzzarelli, made this known to Saliceti, a pri-
Tateer called VArditOy was despatched to cruize
l>etween Sardinia and , and in a few days
actually fell in with the English packet, (which I
l)elieve, was called the Success), which she took.
The mail was thrown overboard, but in the hurry,
it hung by one of the cords which attached it,
and the privateer's men kept up such a fire of
musketry, that the crew of the packet durst not
approach to cut it away, and it was taken. In it
were despatches giving some directions concerning
an attack which was meditated upon Corfu ; with
some letters from the admiralty to the admiral re-
lative to the blockade of that island. Cipriani
described the packet as having been commanded
by a young man about twenty, and manned with
fourteen men.
318 A VOICB FROM 8T. HBLBIIA.
Suzzarelli extorted large sums of money from
Colonel Lowe under various pretexts ; such as in-
demnifying his agents for their imprisonment, and
as bribes stated by him to have been given to the
police to prevent his own arrestation. He was a
most debauched character, but a man of talenti
of prepossessing appearance and manner. He
tried at times to deceive Saliceti with wonderful
stories, and invented schemes to obtain money
from him. Saliceti on these occasions has been
known to say, " Va a far credere questo al cohh
nello tuo, che i un cogUone, a me non puoiy che H
conosco.* Canst thou not say at once that thou
hast need of money r
With a view to embroil the English government
with the Sicilian, a letter was fabricated by Suz-
zarelli, in imitation of Colonel Lowe*s hand-writ-
ing. In the course of conversation with Cassetfi,
Suzzarelli observed, that Queen Caroline was
playing the devil in Sicily, and endeavouring to
destroy all the English. This excited CassettTs
curiosity, and caused him to make many enquiries
from Suzzarelli, who, after many seeming difll-
culties, replied, that he had a letter from the
colonel to that effect, which Cassetti, with great
eagerness, asked to see. Suzzarelli after mach
^ Go and make ihj blookhead of a colonel beUere tUib It wOk
not go down with me, wHo know thee.
A YOIGB raOM 8Tk WUMMIk. 31t
parviinriiQii allowed him to look at it It st^giiMk
tixed the Neapolitana as a set of wretcbes without
fiuth I connseUed SnzzarelU to^ bewate of then;
aaawted that Queen Caroluie had formed a plot
to assaannate all the Engliah ia Sicily ; that Ibc;
barons had every thing ready to take op anii%
and to massacre or drive them off the island ;;
concluding with declaring, that in consequence
of this discovery, the English government had re-^
solved to sdze upon the queen, and take the island
mder their own protection. Cassetti begged haird
to be allowed to retain the letter, which Suaw
xarelli refused but gave him a copy, promising^
that he would consider of the prc^ety of giving
him the original. He then went to Saliceti, to
whom he related that Cassetti had taken the bait^
adding, that he had promised to consider of the
propriety of letting him have the originaL Not
to neglect taking every precaution^ Saliceti de-^
aired Suzzarelli to send for the f^nglish: schoot
master in their employment, who counterfeited
hand-writing to perfection, to ascertain if the
colonel's hand-writing had been well imitated by
Suzzarelli. On looking at it, he declared that the
cheat would be discovered. He then was ordered
to copy the letter, and imitated Sir Hudsooi
XiOwe*s hand-writing so perfectly, that the latter
"^vas subsequently deceived by it himself. The
xies^t morning Suzzarelli gave it to Cassetti^ in*
320 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. /.
atrueting him at the same time not to shew or lose
it, as he said his life depended upon it. Cassetti
iminediately hnrried off to Palermo, and shewed
tlw letter to the queen, who in a cage sent for j^r
JohnStnort, who was thai at Pnlernio^ and pre-
■ented him the connterfeit letter, insisting that
ft most sdmmary panishm«it might he infficted
Qpoa Cekmel Lowe for baring dared to make nss
c^-her name in sach a manner. Sir John Stnart
immediately sent to Colonel Lowe to demand an-
wtplanatio"- On being' shewn the letter, his huid-
Vriting waa so well counterfeited, that he acknow^
kdged it to he his, bnt declared that he was noC
Conscions of ever having written snoh a letter,
nather could he find a copy of it in his private
despatch-book. At the time that Suzzarelli forged
the letter, the police purposely sent out some boats
and seized the colonel's boat coming over from
Capri. The next day, Suzzarelli wrote to the co-
lonel to inform him that the boat had been seized,
and that he did not know what intelligence he had
forwarded to him, as all had fallen into the hands
of the police, who had possessed themselves of
the boat.
Maresca waa usually the person employed to
go over to the colonel in Antonio's boat. Sir
Hudson styled both Suzzarelli and him sui cam-
pioni (his champions). Maresca had two sons,
who, as well as Antonio, the boatman, and his
A rmcm nou wt» skuena. 8S1
mmBp was fidthfal to Sir Hodson Lowe. About
the middle of 1809^ Sir Hudson Lowe began to
•aspect Suzzarelli, who in consequence went
over to Capri, where he employed his eloqueace
80 efiectoally as to convince Sir Hudson that he
was the most tmsty of mankind^ and wholly de-
voted to his service. On his return Suzsarelli
went to Saliceti, to whom he related the vhole
conversation that had taken place between tiiem,
accompanying it with divers strokes of wit at the
expense of the poor colonel. Saliceti, when he
wished to unbend from state affairs, and divert
himself, used sometimes to send for Suzzareili to
make him laugh, by recounting the g^oss manner
in which he had humbugged the colonel.
Several plans were laid to induce the Prince of
Canosa to land on the coast of Naples, but fortu-
nately for himself, he did not agree to any of them,
as he would have been seized and shot within
twenty-four hours. While Suzzareili was thus
carrying on his game, a letter arrived from the
police at Paris, stating, that information had been
received that one Suzzareili, a Corsican emigrant,
in the pay of England, was at that moment in
Naples, employed as a spy for the English, and
desiring that Saliceti might cause him to be ar-
rested, tried by a military commission, and the
sentence executed directly. Saliceti sent fur Suz-
VOL. II. 2 T
322 A VOICI FROM 8T. HIUBNA.
zarelli, in whose hands he put the letter to read
He then wrote to the police in P^s, expkuniog
the nature of Suzzarelirs connexion with Sir
Hudson Lowe, and that he was a treasure to
them. This incident Suzzarelli turned to his own
advantage, as it gave him an opportunity of ex-
tracting some money from Sir Hudson Lowc^
under pretence of having been obliged to bribe
largely some of the police ; adding, that if it had
not been for his friend and countryman, jFVan-
ceschi,* who was in the service of Saliceti, and
had great influence, he should infallibly have been
arrested and shot.
Information was sent to Saliceti that Cassetti
intended to poniard him. Although he did not
credit it, he nevertheless determined to take pre-
cautions. Accordingly one night when Cassetti
made his appearance, he was seized and mi-
nutely searched. Nothing, however, was found
upon him to justify such a suspicion. After hay-
ing gone through this ordeal, he was permitted to
enter, and loudly complained of the ignoble treat-
ment he had received. Saliceti pretended utter
ignorance of it, and affected the greatest asto-
nishment, sent for the officer of gendarmerie^ and
with an angry air asked how he dared to put
* This was the reason that Cipriani nerer aasomed the nania ol
Franeuchi at St. Helena.
A TOICB mOBI 8T« HUiBNA. 83S
such a measure in execution towards a man of
honour like Cassetti.* The oflBicer, who was pre-
pared, pretended that it was a mistake, and by
order of Saliceti made many apologies to the
man of honour. '' I saw," said Cassetti, who was
himself decdved, great rogue as he was, '' fire
iSashing from Saliceti's eyes with indignation at
the unworthy treatment to which I had been ex-
posed.**
Suzzarelli, while over in Sicily, had a conversa-
tion with one of the Roncos, a captain of brigands
under the command of one Piccioli, a native of
Cheti, and in the employ of Queen Caroline, who
were in the habit of landing and committing de-
predations in the Calabrias. Piccioli was tired of
her service, and was desirous of doing something
to procure his pardon and admittance into that of
Murat. He therefore, proposed through Ronco,
to cause the gang to land at night in such part of
Calabria as might be agreed upon, for the pur-
pose of betraying them into the hands of the Near
politan police. Suzzarelli mentioned this to Sa-
liceti, and proposed to send a vessel to bring them
to Calabria, under pretence of landing in some
place where they would meet with a rich booty ;
which plan he hoped to effect through Ronco.
* Cassetti had the rank of lieutenant-colonel in King Joadiim'ii
t^rmj, as well aa in that of Queen Caroline.
BEiUoed, lioinveiv «1h» AmfeftaA SnanreWa con-
lage, told hhn tint be was clewr at m^ii^ pro-
]K^ab and prefects, iMt «ot in esecBtiiig such a
abfc as be hftd aoggested, and BeiiK Mm away. At
Ibis proposal was present one Spadacdtaj, a Nea-
p(^t&I^ a lawyer by profession, and the secret spy
tf Uw interior for Saliceti. Ostensibly lie was a
partisan of Qncen Caroline's, and in order the
better to deceive the partizans of the exiled fa-
vily, be procured himself to be arrested and
ttrown inio prison by orders of Saliceti, where
be was detained as a suspected person for four
tnOBths, and apparently treated with great rigour ;
altboDgb in reality he was allowed to do what he
Inkedf and every night went out of the prison in
disguise, to mahe merry with his brother villains.
He was a man of determined courage, and capable
of any desperate enterprize. At night he returaed
to Saliceti, to whom he said that the project pro-
posed by Suzzarelli, was one of straw, and that
he alone was the person who could succeed, as
he was intimate with Piccioli, they having been
brought up together at college, and their houses
next to each other. Saliceti promised him six thou-
sand »cudi in case of success, but if he failed, he
declared that he would not only not give him any-
thing, but would take his present pension from
him ; adding, that he would give bim no money in
advance^ but would allow six oompanies of Corsi^^
can gendarmerie to be placed under his orders.
This offi&r was immediately accepted by Spadao-
cini^ who (iroceeded to Pescara, from whence b^
sent a messenger to PiccioH, who was then at
RooolL On Piccioli's arrival they bad a long
cooierenee together, during which they arranged
their diabolical plans. A few days afterwards,
Piccioli landed in the gulph of Tarento with his
gang^ consisting of between seventy and eighty
ruffians, all getUe di riputazione, who had signa-
lized themselves by robberies and murders along
(he coasts, and were the terror of the kingdom of
NapIeSu These wretches marched forward to the
mountains, and in their way took an escort with
the contribution of the district for three months^
which was on its road to the treasury. In the
Abbruzzi, they were led by Piccioli at night into
a defile, where, under pretence of ascertaining the
way, their Judas proceeded in advance. Tlie Cor-
sican gendarmerie were disposed amongst the
trees, and as soon as Piccioli got to a certain dis-
tance, he stepped in amongst them, when they
eommenced a fire upon the deluded villains, and
massacred every individual of them, who certainly
had merited death, but not through the treachery
of their leader. After this exploit, Spadaccini
and Piccioli returned to Naples, where the for*
mer recdvcd the reward of hu enterprize, and Ute
latter his pardon. Saliceti, however, considMed
hit treachery to be of so black aad atrodoas a
Batare, that he never woqM dther see hita^ or al-
low btm to be employed.
At the end <tf October, 1808, King Joachim,
Aoding that the possession of Capri by the £ng-
Ksh was a source of continnal annoyance to the
trade oS Naples, and also being alarmed by the
attempts at assassination made by persons coming
from that island, and in the pay of Qaeen Caro-
Une ; and considering it as a reproach to hira to
mflfer the English to hold an island so near to hb
capital, determined to make lumself master of k.
Accordingly, great preparations were made for the
attack, which, Suzzarelli and his confederates per-
suaded Sir Hudson Lowe was destined for the
island of Ponza. Every thing having; t>een pre-
pared, a council of ministers was lield a short
lime previous to the attaclt. Some wislied that
Suzzarelli should continue to deceive Sir Hudson
Lowe to the last; one* however gave liis opinion
that the success of the attack was uncertain, and
should it fail, Colonel Lowe would perceive that
he had been deceived by Suzzarelli, and would
never trust him again. He thought therefore that
• Thi« fact va« related to me in 1819 by the minister hinuel^
vbfwe Bane, foi obTioui reuooa, I ihall sot mentioo.
A TOICB FROM 8T. HBLBNA. 327
to prevent this^ it woald be right to permit Suz<
sarelU to send information of the real destination
of the expedition to Sir Hudson Lowe a few
hours before it sailed. Until that moment Suzza-
relli should continue to persuade him that it was
intended for Ponza ; thus whatever might be the
event, Suzzarelli would not be compromised. A
number of scaling ladders were requisite for the
attack of Capri, and it appeared difficult to cause
them to be constructed without its coming to the
knowledge of Sir Hudson Lowe, which would not
only expose Suzzarelli, but point out at once
the real object of the expedition. This appeared
at first to be an insurmountable difficulty. The
genius of the same person, however, who had pro-
posed the above measure, suggested an expedient
which perfectly answered. The day before the
attack, an order was given by the police, that all
the lamplighters in the city of Naples should as-
semble with their ladders at a certain hour on the
following day. The same night, Suzzarelli sent
over intimation to Lowe, that the island was to
be attacked next morning, and even inclosed him
a copy of the proclamation which was to be is-
sued to the troops who were to make the attempt.
It was considered that this short notice would
only tend to increase the confusion of the garrison.*
The expedition, consisting of sixteen or eighteen
fanndred nen*' nndiGr tb4 eoMOiBiid of Geaend
Lainarqae, auled from tiie hey of Nqdet «■» the
4tli or 6kfa of October^ and anived mdcr the
roeki of Capri, vitboat aay lialestation from tba
f^lith iqaadroD, oonsistiiig of the Ambmokde
frigate and three or foar doopi^ or the floCiUa W
gun-boats ; wbicb in the snpforition of Ponxa bony
tfao intended point oi attai^ bad bem sent to d«^
fold it. Capri bad a garrtaoA corapoied of tbarayak
regiment of Corricans, the royal fe|^oK&t of Malta;
and aome finglish artUlerf . Tbere it not peibaya
m the woiid an ida&d which prestnts more «^
ttades by nature to an attacking army than Gapri.
Kine-tentba of the circamfermee criT the iabiiiii
consists of steep and perpendicnlar rocks, serend
hundred feet above Uie level of the sea. Every
known landing place was fortified, and there were
about forty pieces of cannon mounted in the forts.
In spite of all these natural and artificial ob-
stacles, tlie French landed, being obliged in some
places to climb the precipices by means of lad-
ders, resting on the moving basis of the boats be-
low. The regiment of Malta, whether through
cowardice, or from having been corrupted by the
champion, Suzzarelli, threw down their arms, and
refused to fight, and were made prisoners, in spite
of all the exertions of their officers, several of
whom, including the commanding officer, were
A rme% jphobi bt. sbuik a; 929
kflled in the attempt. In this manner tbe fort St.
Barbe, and Ana-Capri, the sommit of the island^
were taken. The only way of communicating
with Capri itself, the citadel, and the forts, where
Sir Hudson and the rest of the garrison were
was by means of a stair or ladder, of four or five
hundred steps, down which only one person at
a time in front could descend, and was com-
manded by several pieces of cannon. Notwith-
standing this, the French troops made the at-
tempt, succeeded, and invested the town. Five
hundred men were harnessed to some twenty-four
pounder guns, which they dragged up in one night
to Mount Solaro, the most elevated point of Ana-
Capri, and commanding the citadel. During the
whole period of his government. Sir Hudson Lowe
had neglected to fortify this part, in the suppo-
sition that it was impracticable to drag heavy can-
non up the steep sides of the mountain. Breach-
ing batteries were constructed facing the citadel,
and others furnished with furnaces for red hot shot
erected along the beach, in order to keep off the
English squadron and flotilla which were seen
beating up from Ponza. Some reinforcements
also pushed off fi*om Naples and landed near Tibe-
rius*s Bath, and in a few dajrs, Sir Hudson Lowe
capitulated, surrendering to the French the island^
forts, artillery, ammunition, and stores.
VOL. ii« 2 u
Capri wu onnnionlr called the Gibraltar of
Ni4)le8/ and tha obBtacles to its capture, or even
to landing, appeared so Insurmoontable, as to
draw forth from Saliceti the fc^owing reniarkB^
Ml visiting it after it was taken, '*J'y at trotcvi Us
Franfaia, maisje ne putt pas croire qu'ils y atnaii
When the expedition under Lictttenant-general
S^r John Stuart and Admiral Freemantle, conanst-
ing of about eighteen or nineteen thousand men,
left Sicily in 1809^ the advice and intention of the
admiral were, that the expedition should land
between Porticl and Castelamare, and attack the
city of Naples. Sir Hudson Lowe was with the
army. Reference was made to Snzzarelli for ad-
vice, who recommended that the English should
at fii'St secure some point of support and retreat,
by taking the islands of Ischia and Procida,
and then to land at Baja, the garrison of which
he said was commanded by a Corsican colonel,
a relation of his, who would for a certain sum
of money, and an equal rank in the English ser-
vice, betray the place, after making a shew of re-
sistance. That by this time the English party
and that of Ferdinand would have time to arrange
their plans to assist them, and collect their adhe-
rents. This advice was unfortunately followed.
There were at this time only four thousand men
4 TOUai: 7B0M CT. BSUNAi SSI
ipi that dty^ as most of the French troops were
upon thor inarch towards Germany^ it being a
Utile before the battle of Wagram. Orders had
been given to those troops who were in the city
to abandon it if the English landed, and retire to
Fort St. Elmo, there to remain until they were
laccoured. They had even been ordered not to
fire upon the town of Naples, if the English oc-
cupied it. All the treasure, all the king and
queen's baggage and jewels were packed up, as
well as those of the principal persons, and ready
to depart the moment the English landed. Little
or no resistance could have been made. There
were several frigates and a seventy-four on the
stocks, immense stores, between two and three
hundred sail of merchantmen, and a very large
flotilla, which must have been all taken, as Murat
did not like to injure the city by attempting a
useless defence. When the English first appeared^
Saliceti was in Rome. Murat became imbecile^
and thought of nothing but saving his treasures.
The queen, however, who had much more firmness
and talent in the cabinet than her husband, sent
Cipriani with a note to Saliceti, intreating him to
return without loss of time to Naples ; that the
king had lost his senses, and was incapable of com-
manding; and that every thing depended upon
bim* This letter Cipriani concealed in the 80I9
ci Ms boot; and after mom diSculty» ftnil «
narrow escape from robbers near Terracina, m^>
ceeded in arriving at Rome. If he suoeeeded in
bringing back Saliceti^ he was ordered by the
queen to return with all possible cderity ; and at
a place agreed upon near the entrance of tb«
town^ to take out his handkerchief^ and appear U>
wipe the sweat off his brows ; if not^ he was t»
continue his course. He saw Saliceti at abovt
two in the morning, to whom he communicated
every thing. After reading the letter, Saliced
demanded what Suzzarelli and Maresca were
doing. Cipriani replied, that they were in Naples,
and endeavouring to persuade the English gene-
rals not to land between Portici and Castelamare,
but to attack Ischia. ^^ Bravo Suzzarelli^!' ex-
claimed Saliceti^ " son perduti ; but if they land
between Portici and Castelamare, we are lost.*
Saliceti sent Cipriani on, who returned with a
rapidity never before heard of, and made the sig-
nal agreed upon. He was soon followed by Sali-
ceti, who on his arrival found Murai's horses
saddled, and the king himself in the street, and
on the point of abandoning the city to its fate.
Saliceti in rather a harsh manner told Murat that
he was unworthy of a kingdom if he did not defend
his people; and concluded by assuring him that
he would himself take the direction of every thin^
A TOICB WOH ST. .UmVENK. SS3
in the name of the Emperor Napoiemi^ if be did
not adopt the necessaiy measttres for defence.
Murat confoanded^ returned to bis palace. Or-
ders were instantly despatched to recal tbe troops
in the interior, and those on their march to Ger-
many; the fourth regiment of dragoons was brought
from the Abbruzzi, and every necessary measure
instantly adopted. Cannon were placed in tbe
streets, with trasty troops and matches lighted;
and orders publicly given to fire upon any assem-
blage of the people. Saliceti sent for those whom
he suspected, and told them that he coald not
trust to their bare words that they would remain
quiet, and not meddle with what was going on ;
and concluded by asking, in a stem tone of voice,
what guarantee they could give him for their con«
duct? Astonished at his manner, after a little
hesitation, they asked to be confined in one of the
forts until the business was over, which was ac*
cordingly done. While he acted publicly in this
Dianner, and ordered that every means of defence
should be put in practice to encourage those who
were faithful, and dismay the disaffected, he had
at the same time secretly continued the directions,
that if the English disembarked, the troops were
to evaoute the town, and retire to the forts, until
a sufficient force had returned from the interior to
afford some chance of success. In three days a re»
ipactaUe fioMewiis oDMected^ aad^fears^t an «nd.
334 A TOICX FROM 8T. HUANA.
Saliceti was a republican in principle, and
would have supported the establishment of that
sort of government in Italy, had there appeared a
probability of success. He died a few hours after
having dined with an enemy, to whom he had been
reconciled, which gave rise to a supposition that
he was poisoned. Upon this, however, there was
a difference of opinion ; the French physicians as-
serting, and the Italians denying the fact. No
traces of poison were discovered on opening his
body. When Napoleon was informed of his death,
he exclaimed, '^ son nom seul me valait une armit
de cent mille hommes.^
Independent of the confirmation of the above
account given to roe by one of the then ministers
of King Murat, and the fact of Sir Hudson Lowe*s
letters to Suzzarelli being now in existence. Na-
poleon, to whom I mentioned some of the circum-
stances, replied, that he was aware of the manner
in which we had been betrayed by our spies at
Naples ; and added, that Cipriani, who had been
a principal agent, could furnish me with all the
particulars. He remaiiced/ that in general our
spies betrayed us. That the French had a great
advantage in the Roman Catholic religion, as the
spies were induced to believe that it was not only
not necessary, but even meritorious, not to keep
faith with heretics.
December Ath4 — ^Miss V * • *^ a pretty fpri^ and
A TOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA. SS5
femme de chambre to Lady Lowe, came to Long-
wood this day from Plantation House, mounted
on one of the governor's horses, and furnished
with a letter from Major Grorrequer, stating that
Sir Hudson Lowe had forgotten to leave a pass for
her before he went to town, and directing Cap-
tain Blakeney to admit her. She went to Long-
wood House, where she remained for near two
hours, during which time she passed through
almost every room in the building; the French
domestics were so much enchanted with the ap-
parition of a young and pretty girl, that their
gallantry could scarcely refuse her any thing.
She was very desirous of obtaining admission to
Napoleon, and at one time had partly opened
the door of the room where he was, for the pur-
pose of going in to him, but was prevented by
St. Denis. She persuaded them, however, to al-
low her to peep at him for some time through the
kep-hole.*
1th. — Communicated to Mr. Baxter, that Na-
poleon had at last agreed to take some medicine
* A short time afterwards this young person left St/Helena preg-
nant (if report be true) by one of the inmates of Plantation House.
She was accompanied on board ship by Sir Thomas Reade^ and every
posnble attention paid to her by the governor. Various were the
surmises at Longwood^ as to the cause of this young woman's visit
under iuth drcumstanees^ some of idiich the intelligent reader will
BOl fail to guew.
BH A VOICg FROM ST. HELENA.
vUeli I indMniptercd W hin vysel^ and by wiMch
ha ind been temponrily benefited. Mr. Baxter
fagreed vit3i me in optsion ttf" the propriety of
ttflfarding him B<»ne other \dnter abod^ than ti^
dnary and exposed aitnation of hongw^odi
wber^ in omBeqnence of the bleak and etenud
aoBtb-eest wind, he rery generally contraotod *
catarrhal afiection whenever he went oat. Mc
Baxter hinu^ mentioned Rosemary Hall or <C»-
looel Snuth's, as being the most suitable.
9th. — Signal made for me to proceed to Plasty
lien House. Soon after my Brrival, Sir Htulaw
liowe said, with a lerioaB air, that he had aeiait
for me on bosiness not medical, that he had great
occasion to censmre my condnct, and then pro-
ceeded to ask, if I had not kept up a correspond-
ence, or was not the medium of communication
for the French at Longwood, with persons on the
island? I felt surprised at the question, and re-
plied, that I was ignorant of his meaning. He re-
peated his interrogations more than once, adding,
that he did not mean communications to fuvour
General Bonaparte's escape from the island, but
of another nature. I replied, that if going into
shops and buying articles for Countesses Ber-,
trand and Montholon, or others at Longwood,
could be construed into carrying on communica-
tions or correspondence for them, I roust certainly
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 337
plead gailty. He then asked^ if I had not written
to town to a person to send up some articles for
Madame Bertrand? I replied^ certainly, that I
•
had written to Mr. Darling to send up some
basons, chamber utensils, and other articles of
household use. The governor said, that it was a
breach of orders, as he had prohibited me from
being the bearer of any message or communication
not medical. ^' What business had I to do so ? If
Madame Bertrand wants any thing of the kind,
let her apply to the orderly officer ; and why had
she not done so ?**
I replied, that, in the first place, cleanliness was
necessary to prevent sickness, and consequently,
every thing relating to it was medical. That, in
the next place, the orderly officer was absent from
Longwood when the request was made to me ; that^
even if he had been present, delicacy would prevent
a lady from making demands to him for certain ne-
cessary articles, which she could with propriety
mention to her surgeon ; and that I did not conceive
it to be a crime to desire a tradesman to purchase
chamber utensils, (naming them,) or similar articles,
either for Madame Bertrand or myself. His ex-
cellency, as usual, flew into a violent passion, and
said, that he would not allow me to insult him in
his capacity of governor, and was otherwise very
violent ; asked me, " how dare I order articles to
VOL. II 2 X
338 A VOICE FROM 8T. UtJlNA.
be sent out of the king*s stores without consaltidg
him ? or to have them charged to those, storeB?"
I replied^ that I had said nothing about chaig^
them to the king*s stores. A reference was then
made to my letter to Mr. Darling, which the go-
vernor had in his possession, and which confirmed
my statement. Notwithstanding this, he conti-
nued his abuse, and made some common*plaoe
remarks upon the delicacy of French ladies.
I asked for written orders, in order to prevent
\ the possibility of a mistake, which he refused to
give. I then asked, if the ladies required me to
purchase some articles for them in the shops, what
reply was I to make ? After some hesitation, he
said, that ^^ if they wished me to purchase any thing
for them myself, I need not refuse, but that if they
asked me to apply to another to purchase any
thing for them, I was not to comply with it ! T
He was very violent for a great part of the time,
and I had much difficulty in repressing a smile
at the serious manner in which he treated this im-
portant subject.
No alteration of consequence has taken place in
the state of Napoleons complaint. Had some
discourse with him upon the libels which had
been published at his expense. ^^ Of all the libels
and pamphlets against me,** said he, '^ with which
your ministers have inundated Europe, not one
•A VOICE FROM 8T. H8LBKA. 339
wDI'five to posterity. During the reign of Liouis
the Fourteenth, and even under Henry the Fourth,
the press teemed with libels, not one of which is
now to be found. The labours of those wretches
employed by your ministers,* to dance over the
mins of their own country, will die in a similar
manner. When I was asked to write, or cause to
he written, answers to them ; I replied, une vie-
tohrey un monument^ de plus est la v&itable r^ponse.
Besides, it would have been said that I paid for the
;< Tr The acrimony ttiU entertained towards the deceased Empe-
jroT Napoleoa, is exemplified by a reply which I have been told
Mcaped from the lips of an ander-Becretary of state^ who, when
•
fttfbrmed that, e short time before his dissolution, Napoleon or^
'derad that his body should be opened, his heart taken out, preserred
jB-spifits of wine^ and sent to the Empress Marie Louise; replied,
^* It amghi to haD€ been thrown into quick-time" When Napoleon
was sent to St. Helena, it was expressly stated, in the regulations
for his safe custody, that should he die in that island, his body
«honld be interred wherever he thought proper to order it in his
wiU. This promise, however, has not been kept. In the codicil to
4us wJl, which was made known to the ministers, the following
words are to be found :-—
" Avril U 16, 1821. LongwoodJ*
" Ceci tsi un codidlle de mon tettamont. 1*. Je d6sire que met
r^ndret rtposenl sur let horde de la Seine, an milieu de ce pfupie
^mnfeis que jai tant aimi,
(Signi) Napoleon
His remains were refused^ at the end of last year, to the prayers
of bis aged mother.
A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA.
writing of them, which would have been discrefit-
able. Posterity will judge by facts: calumny has
exhausted all her poisons on my person. I shaU
gain every day. La premiere /ureur pass^e, je m
canserverai pour ennemts que des sots ou des mi-
charts. When there is not a trace of those libeU
to be founds the great works and monuments that
I executed, and the code of laws that I formed^
will go down to the most distant ages^ and future
historians will revenge the wrongs done to me by
my contemporaries."
I asked, if, in his own mind, he believed that
• * * was privy to the death of ••? "There is not
a doubt,** replied he, " that the attempt was made
with his consent The empress," added be, " never
could bear the sight of any of the murderers after-
wards, and never would receive them ; but one is
now aide-camp to * * *.
" After the execution of the Duke d^Enghien,
****," said he, ^* ordered a service to be celebrated
for his death. I did not like this, and caused his
conduct relative to the death of his own father, to
be served up to him in prose and versed*
"Lord *V continued he, "was also privy to.
it. He was the most intimate friend of P**, the
principal contriver and actor. This was well
known at Petersburgh.**
* Avk idiomatic expreMtea.
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 341
He mentioned that Talleyrand certainly had
first suggested the attempt upon Spain, partly
through hatred of the Bourbon family, and partly
in the hope of filling his pockets.
Conversing on the policy adopted by our minis-
ters, ^ It would have been better for England,"
be observed, ^ to have left me on the throne, as
Russia, Austria, and Prussia, would, through jea-
jk>usy of me, have given commercial advantages to
£ngland. There is nothing now to prevent their
taking steps to promote their own commercial in-
terests, by injuring those of England. Moreover,
having great influence with the French nation,
and being loved by them, I could have given you
afovourable commercial treaty, which the Bour-
bons, who are hated, dare not propose. But, ia
truth, there was nothing really to be feared from
France, under any sovereign. Until she has an
army of five hundred thousand men, France is not
to be dreaded. Besides, it was always for the
allies to grant peace. France was tired of war,
and was frightened at the idea of new conquests.
I succeeded in beating the allies, because I at-
tacked them in detail, and destroyed one power
before the army of the other could arrive to sup-
port it. Hundreds of years will probably elapse,
before circumstances will arise similar to those
which concentrated such a mass of power in me.
342 A VOICE PROM 8T. HBLBNA.
I repeat, that there was nothing to be feared from
me, for if I bad attempted new conquests^ the opi*
uion which brought me back from Elba, wonU
have thrown me to the ground again.**
Massena, he observed, on a former oocattM^
had lost himself in the campaign of Fbrtiigs]^
which, however, he attributed to the bad state of
his health, that did not permit him to sit on hMse*
back, or inspect, himself, what was going on.
^A general, who sees with the eyes of othecfli
added he, ^^ will never be able to command ia
army as it should be. Massena was then so i^
that he was obliged to trust to the reports of
others, and consequently failed in some of his on^
dertakings. At Busaco, for example^ be attempt-
ed to carry a position almost impregnable in the
manner he attacked it ; whereas, if he had com-
menced by turning it, he would have succeeded*
This was owing to his not being able to recon-
noitre personally.** He added, ^^ that if Massena
had been what he was formerly, be would have
followed Wellington so closely as to be able to at-
tack him,* while entering the lines befoi*e Lisbon, be*
* Speaking of the Duke of Wellington on a foimer oooasioii, h»
observed that all generals were liable to err^ and that wboerer
committed the least number of faults^ should be este.emed to be the
greatest, and that he (Wellington) had committed thtmaft
aa moat othen
ArVOICS FROM 8T..HEL&NA.. 343
fonp he could have tak^n wp his position properly.**
I4ih.—Sir Hudson Lowe at Longwood. Asked
me. several questions about Napoleon*s health.
Observed^ that it was very extraordinary he did
not take, exercise ; that if he expected^ by confining
himself to obtain any further relaxation in the
systeoi adopted^ he was mistaken. He then in-
quired if the want of sleep was caused by mental
or by bodily disease. I said^ that I thought it was
chiefly caused by the want of exercise, that no
man, leading such a life as Napoleon did, could
possibly remain long in a state of health. The
l^ovemor said, with a sneer, that he believed
Easiness was the cause of his not taking exercise.
I replied, that when he first came to the island, he
had taken a great deaL He then said, that he
wanted to have information of his state of health
more frequently, and desired me to mention any
thing extraordinary to Captain Blakeney. I said,
that it would be very easy to arrange matters, by
sending him bulletins describing Napoleon as
^ the patient,*' giving copies to Count Bertrand at
the same time. This he refused to allow, saying,
that as long as verbal reports could be got, he did
not think written ones of consequence. He also
made some insinuations about his not having seen
Mr. Baxter.
In the course of conversation this day, NapolecHi
344 A VOICB VROM 8T. RBLBNA.
expressed his disapprobation of oar castom of shot-
ting up shops, and prohibiting people from work-
ing on Sundays. In reply to what I said, he re-
marked, '' For those who are at their ease, it may
be very right and proper to discontinue working
on the seventh day, but to oblige a poor man who
has a large family, without a meal to give them,
to leave off labouring to procure them victuals, is
the height of barbarity. If such a law be enforced,
provision ought to be made by your government
to feed those who, on that day, have not where-
withal to purchase food, and who could obtain it,
if permitted to labour. Or let your gorbellied
priests, (panciutij give a portion of their dinners
on that day to the starving poor, whom they will
not allow to work. They would have an apo-
plexy, or an indigestion the less. Besides, it does
not serve the cause of morality. Idleness is the
mother of mischief, and I will wager, that there is
more drunkenness to be seen, that there is more
vice, and that more crimes are committed in Eng-
land on a Sunday, than on any other day of the
week."
Speaking upon the possibility of cordially uni-
ting the negroes with the whites, Napoleon ob-
served, that it had occurred to him, that the only
mode of effectually reconciling the two colours,
would be to allow polygamy in the colonies*
A VGnrCB FROM ST. HBLBNA. 345
That every black or white man should be per**
mitted to have a wife of each colour. By such
means, he thought, that in the next generation,
nearly all would be alike, and consequently all
jealousy and hatred done away. He added, that
it would have been easy to have obtained a dis-
pensation from the Pope to that effect. He also
said that he considered the negroes to be a race
inferior to the whites.
Saw Napoleon again in the evening, who made
some observations upon the governor, who, he ob-
served, had passed by his windows. " I never see
that governor,** said he, " without thinking I view
the man heating the poker (ichavffant la barre de
fer) for your Edward the Second in Berkley Cas-
tle, ha nature nCa pr4venu contre, and gave me a
friendly warning the first day I saw him. Cmnme
Cdiriy la nature Va hien cachete. If I were in Lon-
don, and Sir H. Lowe were presented to me en
bourgeois^ and I were asked, whom do you conceive
that man to be ? I should reply, cest le bourreau
de la municipality. You cannot say,'* added he,
^ that it arises from prejudice against your nation,
as I never have been so with Cockburn. Never
did I for a moment, as you well know, suspect or
distrust him in the slightest manner. From him
I would readily have received a surgeon or any
thing else. I had every confidence in him, even
after we had differed. But I think that I see ths^
TOL. II. 2 T
346 A VOIOH FROM flV. nUUTA^.
• ••♦•••• or heating the poktr. He wanted
to encircle the house with grilles de fer, in order
to make the second cage defer de Bajazetj linr
which purpose he put his government to the use*
less expense of sending out a ship-load of iron bars
to make his cage."
I recommended him to see Mr. Baxter^ adding
that it would be a satisfaction to me to have the
assistance of the advice and opinion of another me*
dical person. He replied, ^' // govematore se tii
mischiato ; i vera che la suajisonomia e buonOf ma i
troppo attaccato a quel boja. he gouverneur est
• ♦*♦•*♦♦♦. // rend odieux tout ce qui passe
entre ses mains, therefore I think that he must have
suflfered by contact with him. Besides^ he haa
been recommended by him, and that is sufficient
to prevent me from ever seeing him."
" If I, malheiireusement^ added he, " had such
a physiognomy, the world would then believe the
libellers. Look, they would say, oh, look at the
countenance of the sc4Urat. See the murders of
Wright, of Pichegru, and of a thousand others
stamped on the visage of the monster."
18M. — Summoned to attend at Plantation
House by letter from Major Gorrequer. As the
reader must be already disgusted with the details
of the manner in which the governor took advan-
tage of his situation to insult and oppress an offii-
oer inferipr in ra^ because the latter refused to
hfi^.hia spy; I shall not fiuigae him with anjrfe^f*
tbar account of the conduct practised towards ipe
otL this day, than that my replies and refusals to,
diacloBe Napoleon's conversations, caused me tOi
be treated in a more outrageous manner than on;
the 18th of last month. The governor followed
me out of the room, vociferating after me in a-
frantic manner, and carried his gestures so fnu: atf
to menace me with personal violence.
After this orders again given me to attend inter-^
rogations at Plantation House twice a week.
27th. — ^A letter sent by Major Gorrequer, in*
forming me that I had been expected yesterday at
Plantation House, and ordering me there this
day. On my arrival, I saw Mr. Baxter, to whom^
after some conversation about Napoleon's com*
plaint, I communicated my positive determination
never to come again to the governor at Plantation
House, or attend him elsewhere, if a repetition of
the scandalous treatment I bad met with on the
18tb again occurred ; that this I was determined
upon, whatever might be the consequences.
January Ist, 1818. — Napoleon nearly in the
same state as yesterday.
Some conversation took place upon Mr. Hob*
house's book, which, as has been already stated,
had been sent by the author, and detained by Sir
Ilndsoa Lowe; I said that it had been seen by'
S48 A YOICB VROM 8T. HUJQfA.
acddent in Sir Hudson s library^ by the penon
who had acquainted him (Napoleon) with the dr-
cumstance. ^^ It was a hStise in the governor/
said he^ ^' after he had illegally detained it, to
leave it where any person might see it. In Car*
dinal Richelieu's time^ a nobleman who waited
upon him about some affairs, and to ask some
fevour, was ushered into his private cabinet.
While they were conversing together, a great
personage was announced, and entered the room.
After some conversation with Richelieu, the great
man took his leave, and the cardinal, in compli-
ment to him, attended him to his carriage^ for-
getting that he had left the other alone in the ca-
binet. On his return to his cabinet, he rang a
bell, one of his confidential secretaries entered^ to
whom he whispered something. He then con-
versed with the other very freely, appeared to
take an interest in his affairs, kept him in conver-
sation for a short time, accompanied him to the
door, shook hands, and took leave in the most
friendly way, telling him that he might make his
mind easy, as he had determined to provide for
him. The poor man departed highly satisfied, and
full of thanks and gratitude. As he was going
out of the door he was arrested, not allowed to
speak to any person, and conveyed in a coach to
the Bastille, where he was kept au secret for ten
A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA. 349
years ; at the expiration of which time the cardi-
nal sent for him, and expressed his great regret
at having been obliged to adopt the step he had
taken, that he had no cause of complaint against
him ; on the contrary, that he believed him to be
a good subject to his majesty ; but the fact was,
he had left a paper on the table when he quitted
the room, containing state secrets of vast import-
ance, which he was afraid he might have perused
in his absence ; that the safety of the kingdom
demanded that they should not be divulged, and
obliged him to adopt measures to prevent the pos-
sibility of the contents being known. That as soon
as the safety of the country had permitted, he had
released him, was sorry, and begged his pardon
for the uneasiness he had caused him, and would
be happy to make him some amends.**
Some sentiments relative to the French revolu-
tion were also delivered by Napoleon, and argu-
ments in favour of the validity of the imperial
title- "The republic sent to and received from
all the powers of Europe ambassadors. It was
sanctioned by the will of the people, by victory,
by religion, and by all the nations of Europe.
Louis, driven from one state to another, was at
last obliged to seek for refuge in England, but was
received there as a private person, and on the ex-
press stipulation that he should only assume the
350 A TOIOS FROM ST. RBUINA.
title of the Count de Lisle. None of the powers
erer acknowledged Liouis the Seventeenth^ or
Louis the Eighteenth. Every legitimate govern-
ment cancels the rights and the legitimacy of the
governments which precede it. The French revo-
lution was a general movement of the mass of the
nation against the privileged classes. The nobles
retained the higher and the inferior justice^ and
other feudal rights, under various forms ; enjoyed
the privilege of being exempt from the burthens
of the community, and exclusively possessed all
honourable employments, The chief object of the
revolution was to destroy those privileges and
abuses, to abolish the manorial courts, suppress
the remains of the ancient slavery of the people,
and subject all citizens equally to bear the ex-
penses of the state. It established equality of
rights. Any citizen might succeed to any em-
ployment according to his talents. Before it,
France was composed of provinces differently di-
"nded and unequal in extent and in population.
They had a great number of legal customs and
peculiar laws for the administration of civil as
well as criminal justice. She was an assem-
blage of several states without amalgamation.
The revolution destroyed all those little nations^
and formed a new one. There was one France
with an homogeneous division of territory, the
i tWCB VROH n. mwiJttNA. 981
Mtne civil and criminal laws, and the same regQ^
^lations for taxes. There no longer remained any
^traee of the ancient privileges of the provinces,
tliieir ancient sovereigns, or ancient parliaments.
One half of the territory had changed proprietors.
-France presented the spectacle of thirty millions
of inhabitants circumscribed in natural limits,
composed of one class of citizens, and governed
by one law, one regulation, one order. Subse-
quently the French nation established the impe-
rial throne, and placed me upon it. No person
ever ascended a throne with more legitimate rights.
The throne of France was granted before to
Hngues Capet by a few bishops and nobles. The
Imperial throne was given to me by the desire of
the people, whose wishes were three times verified
in a solemn manner. The Pope crossed the Alps
to crown and anoint me. Kings hastened to ac-
knowledge me. England acknowledged the re-
public, and sent ambassadors to the first consul.
Before she violated the peace of Amiens, the Eng-
lish ministers offered through Malhouet, to ac-
knowledge me as king of France if I would agree
to the cession of Malta ; and in 1806, Lord
Lauderdale came to Paris to treat for a peace be-
tween the king of Great Britain and the Emperor
Napoleoriy exchanged his powers, and negociated
with the plenipotentiary of the emperor. If Fox
S52 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
Jiad lived, peace woqld hanre been made. Mom>
over, the imperial title waa acknowledged, by Lord
Castlereagbf when he ugned the, ultimatum at
ChaamcHit, acknowledging the existence of the
empire^ and me as emperor.
2nd4 — ^Went to Plantation House by wder ol
the goremori whom I saw la the library. He asked
a great many qnestions concerning my l^)point-
ment as surgeon to Napoleon, and concluded by
asserting that I was not his surgeon, but only to-
lerated to vieit him. I obserred that the IhUb
which I drew for my pay on the Nary Board, the
Smm of which had been ordered by Sir George
Cockbum, were worded "as snigeon to NapcrfeoD
Bonaparte and suite." I also took the liber^ <tf
asking him for what object I was at St. Helena?
He asked me " if I conceived myself to be in-
dependent of him as governor, and of the govern-
iiieiit under whose orders 1 acted r" I replied,
that no British officer could be independent of
the government of his country. He then asked
"whether I conceived myself independent of hhity
and if it were not in his power as governor,
and having charge of Napoleon Bonaparte, if he
thought that my conduct was not correct, to send
me away if he pleased T I told him that he could
reply to that himself, as he best knew what the
extent of his authority was. This answer did not
A TOICB FROM 8T. RBLBNA. 353
please hiin^ and after walking about the room for
a little time exclaiming against my conduct^ he
stopped^ crossed his arms^ and after looking at me
with an expression of countenance which I shall
never forget, said, " This is my office, sir, and there
is the door leading to it. When I send for you on
daty, you will come in at that door ; but do not
put your foot in any other part of my house, or
come in at any other entrance.**
I calmly replied, that it was not for my own
pleasure, or by my own desire that I ever set foot
in any part of his house ; and after suffering this
paltry abuse of authority, departed.
Saw Napoleon afterwards, who was nearly in
the same state as yesterday. Had some conver-
sation relative to the capture of Rome by the
French. '^ After the treaty which I had con-
cluded at Tolentino with that imbecile and frau-
duient court of old women at Rome,** said Napo-
leon, *^they endeavoured by all means to assist
the Austrians. and even placed an Austrian gene-
ral at the head of their troops. Every where the
populace were excited by all the means generally
put in practice by superstition and bigotry to mas-
sacre the French. General Duphot, who was re-
siding at Rome as a private person, was murdered
at the door of my brother Joseph, who was ambas-
sador there. However, under ail the circumstances,
VOL. II. 2 z
,'{54 A VOICE FROM 8T. HBIiBNA.
and concluding that a rapture with Rome would
infallibly lead to one with Naples^ I was of opi-
nion that we ought only to correct and not de>
stroy her. That we ought to demand that an
example should be made of the guilty^ that Pro-
vera^ the Austrian general should be obliged to
depart, and an ambassador sent to Paris to beg
pardon. The directory, however, decided that
we should march against the Pope ; and said, that
the time was come to overturn that idol. Berthier
was sent with an army to revolutionize Rome,
and establish a republic, which was done. The
people at first were transported with joy at the
thought of the re-establishment of the Roman re-
public, and f&tes were given, and a te deu?n cele-
brated with great pomp ; at which last a number
of the cardinals attended, although the act of re-
establishment was the annihilation of the Pope*s
temporal power. Their joy, however, was of short
continuance, as the troops, who were little re-
strained by their generals, and excited by agents
of yours and of the Austrians, commenced a scene
of robbeiy, and plundered the Vatican and the
palaces of the nobles of their pictures and pieces
of art of all kinds, and finished by mutinying
against the imbecilles, who saw the error too late,
and endeavoured in vain to put a stop to their
abuses."
A VOICE FBOM 8T. HBLBNA. «356
*^When the Venetians/* continued Napoleon,
*' deceived by false reports that Joubert's army
had been defeated and cut to pieces ; and duped
by the traitorous and machiavelian policy of the
court of Vienna, armed a number of Sclavonians
and peasants, the priests preached destruction
to the French, and another Sicilian vespers. All
the French in Verona were massacred and their
bodies thrown into the Adige. Four hundred of
the sick and wounded in the hospitals were bar-
barously murdered. In other towns in the Vene-
tian territories similar cruelties were practised.
As soon as they discovered that the army of Jou-
bert was entire ; that Augereau was marching
against them, and finding that the Austrians, de-
feated every where, had sent to me to supplicate
for peace, their fright knew no bounds. A de-
putation waited upon me, making the most sub-
missive proposals ; pledging themselves to agree
to every thing I should require, and offering me
millions if I would grant their prayers. Finding
this useless, orders were despatched to their, minis-
ter at Paris to corrupt the directory, in which they
succeeded, as orders were sent of a nature favour-
able to their wishes. The despatches of their am-
bassador, however, were seized and brought to
me, and the whole intrigue discovered, together
with the amount of the bribes they had given. I
$56 M. TOICg FBOH Vr. HBLBNA.
commanded the French minister to quit their terri-
tories within tventy-fonr faourst and declared war
against Venice which Baraguez d'HilUrea entered
with bis division, upset the oligarchy, and the
whole of the states were soon repnblicanized."
Recdved the letters which are inserted in the
preface.
6th. — Interrogated by Sir Hudstm Lowe whe-
ther Napoleon Boniqttrte had directed or com-
manded me to make a commanication which I
had done to him, riz. that h^ NapoletHi, bad told
Lord Amherst, " ndther of yoar houses of par-
liament can oblige me to see mom bourreauj Sue'
or whether I had repeated it without having had
authority to do so from Bonaparte i I answered,
that Napoleon had said, " If I were asked any
questions about the conversation with him, I was
permitted to mention it." This did not satisfy
Sir Hudson Lowe, who wished me to answer it
as best suited whatever purposes he had in view;
and on my persisting in the above reply, he be-
came very violent and abusive, and ordered Major
Gorrequer to write down, " Mr. O'Meara refuses
to reply to the question of, ' Did Bonaparte or
did he not desire you to communicate the above-
mentioned expressions to the governor T" I said,
that some persons would consider it as a desire,
and others only as a permission, and therefore it
A TOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA. 357
was best to put down Napoleon's words, which
however, his excellency would not allow.
7th. — Sir Hudson Lowe sent for me at six
o'clock in the evening, when after having made
some inquiries about Napoleon's state of health,
which I told him was not so good as the last time
I had reported ; he said, that if General Bonapaite
thought he should gain any further relaxation in
die restrictions by confining himself to the house
in the manner he did, he was mistaken, as he,
(Sir Hudson,) without an order from government,
would not make any more alterations in the re-
gulations, even if he were worse in health. I asked
if he wished this to be communicated to Napo-
leon ? He said, that he did not desire it ; but that
it ouglit to be known.
9th. — Another series of interrogations at Plan-
tation House, pai-tly about Lord Amherst, during
which the governor said, that " General Bonaparte
would not have dared to make use of the insult-
ing expressions he did before any other persons
than Lord Amherst and myself; that General
Bonaparte had so expressed himself, because he
(Napoleon) knew that his lordship had received
the governors permission to listen to any com-
plaints which he might make ; that a listener was
as bad as a repeater ; and that Count Bertrand had
told him (Sir Hudson) in October last^ that
958 A'TmCfll FROM 8T. BBIANA.
niSFal Bonaparte was influenced by the persons
about him, aiiiongst whom I formed one.* I could
scarcely help smiling at the supposition that I
eduld have influenced such a person as Napoleon,
and contented myself with replying, that as far as
I knew him, he was not a man to let himself be
guided by the opinion of others. Sir Hudson,
however, insisted that Count Bertrand had cour
fessed it, and said that / should be responsible for
a great deal of what might happen, &c. &c.
13M. — More interrogations at Plantation House.
Sir Hudson Lowe took out of his pocket a ftfom-
ing Chronicle of the 17th <^ September, 1817>
(I think,) containing a detail of a conversation
stated to have taken place between Napoleon and
some English gentlemen, and was desirous, he
said, " to know from me whether such a conversa-
tion had ever taken place between General Bona-
parte and myself, or if I had ever communicated
it to other persons. That he inferred from the
commencement of the article, viz. after the nsual
salutations, that the conversation had taken place
between General Bonaparte and some person who
was frequently in the habit of seeing him ; that
Admiral Malcolm and myself were the only per-
sons who had tete-d-tcte conversations with him ;
therefore that it must have been communicated bv
one of us." I replied, that I had neither written
A VOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA. 359
nor communicated it, and reminded him^ that
others besides the admiral and myself had com-
munications with Napoleon. His excellency ap-
peared to be very anxious that I should assist
him to saddle it upon the admiral ; in which, how-
ever, he did not succeed. Indeed, on the first
glance I had of it, I saw that it must have come
from Mr. Ellis ; it however contained some mis-
representations.
16M. — Saw the governor at Plantation House,
to whom I reported that Napoleon's indisposition
had rather increased, and that I had been that
morning under the necessity of giving him physic.
Communicated the same to Mr. Baxter.
16th. — Saw Napoleon, who felt somewhat re-
lieved by the effect of the physic administered
yesterday. Had a conversation with him upon
some of the early periods of his life, and the man-
ner in which he had obtained the command of the
troops of the convention against the sections,
" When Menou," said he, " was repulsed in his at-
tempt to disperse the sections, through the imbeci-
lity of the representatives who were with him, and
his own incapacity, the convention was in the
greatest alarm, as the comity of the section had
declared itself sovereign in the exercise of its fuuc-
tions, and permanent, refusing to obey the orders of
the convention, and had even sent deputations co
360 A To«u. noH n. bviana*
the other seeUons to asast them. Their nnmben
amoimted to above forty thousand. I was ia a box
at the theatre Feydeau when informed of this, ana
proceeded to the assembly. The convention were ia
the greatest dismay ; Menou was accused of trea-
chery— the danger was imminent. Each member
of the assembly proposed the general in whom be
had confidence. The members of the committee
of public safety, and some who had known me at
Toulon, proposed me as the person best calcu-
lated, by the energy of my character, to save them
in the present crisis. A deputation was sent to
offer the command to me. I balanced however
for some time before I would accept of it. It was
a service that I did not likej but when I coo-
sidered that if the convention was overturned,
Vdlrangcr would triiiniph ; tliat the destruction
of tliat body would seal the slavery of the coun-
try, and bring back an incapable and insolent
race those reflections and destiny decided that I
should accept of it. I went to the comity pointed
out to them the inconvenience of having three re-
presentatives with the troops, who only served to
impede all the operations of t!ie general. The
com'iti perceiving that there was no time to be
lost, proposed Barras to the convention, as general-
in-chief, and gave the command of the troops that
were to protect the assembly, to me. The mea-
A VOICE PROM ST. HBLENA. 361
rares that I adopted, as I explained to you before,
saved the convention, with a very trifling loss of
men* on both sides.**
20/A. — ^Went to Plantation House, according to
orders. While speaking to Mr. Baxter in the
library, the governor came in, looking very angry,
and asked in a rough and abrupt manner, what
communications I had to make respecting Ge-
* 1 was informed by the Duke of Rovigo^ and by many other
officers who had served with him^ that the humanity displayed
hy the emperor to his soldiers was exemplary on all occasions.
That in particular he was frequently in the habit of riding over
the field of battle after an action, accompanied by numbers of his
etaff, and by persons carrying restoratives of different kinds for
the purpose of resuscitating any of the wounded^ in whom signs
of life appeared. That Napoleon has often spent hours in this
pious emplojrment. Amongst other strong instances, the Duke
of Rovigo mentioned, that after the battle of Wagram, Napoleon,
accompanied by him and several others, rode over the field, and
pointed out for assistance many of the wounded from whom life
had not yet departed. While employed in this manner, the
body of a colonel named Pepin, who had fallen under his displea-
sure for some misconduct several years before, and had not been
actively employed until a short time before the battle of Wagram,
attracted his attention, though he had not seen him for a number
of years. He was on his back, a ball had perforated his head,
and life was not extinct, though he was insensible. '' Ah, Pepin !
poor fellow," said Napoleon, in a feeling manner, " I am sorry
to see him here, and still more so that, before he met his fate, I
had not an opportunity of letting him know that I had forgiven
him, and lorgotten his conduct"
VOL. II. S A
362 A VOICE FROM tT. HKLBNA.
neral Bonaparte's health ? I replied^ that no perroaf
nent relief for the better had taken place. " Has
he been out of the house?" "He has not.** "Has
he been in the billiard room ?" " He spends a con-
siderable portion of his time there every day*
" How does he employ his time there ?" " I cannot
tell, sir." '* Yes, you can, sir," replied the gover-
nor, regarding me in his customary manner, " you
well know what he does there ; you do not do
your duty to government.**
His excellency then walked about the room,
stopping occasionally, and regarding me with his
arms crossed over his breast in a manner which
it is difficult to describe, and bursting out into
furious exclamations. I contented myself with
taking out my watch to ascertain the length of
time he contemplated me in this manner. I
thought more than once that he meditated some
act of violence. This composure and silence ap-
peared not to be what he wished, and he began
another series of interrogations in his usual man-
ner, relative to the name of the person who had
given me information about twelve months ago,
that Lord Liverpool had interfered and prevented
my removal from St. Helena. I answered that I
had, at the time I had first mentioned it to him in
July last, offered to shew, to a third person, that
part of the letter which stated that application had
A'i^6iCt! VtiOM 8T; Hfif.BNA. 363
bttii thade to Lord Liverpool^ that his lordship
dhoald prevent my being removed. The governor
netee^ed in a violent tone his demand that I should
forthwith give him the name of the person who
had communicated the information to me, and
that the offer I had then made of shewing it to a
third person, was an insult to him ; and advanced
towards me in a menacing manner, evidently with
an intention to intimidate me to a compliance. I
answered as before, w^hich drew forth another de-
mand of the name with an increase of violence. I
said then, that as my replies only brought upon
roe abuse, bad language, and bad treatment, I
must decline giving him any more answers on the
subject. *^ Put down. Major Gorrequer, that Mr.
O'Meara refuses to answer," was the governor's
reply. After listening to a long and abusive ha-
rangue about my improper conduct since he had
catechised me about a newspaper, {id est, since I
had refused to be an instrum.ent to calumniate
Admiral Malcolm,) I was permitted to depart.
28M. — Saw Napoleon, who was rather better
than on the preceding day. Had some conversa-
tion about Chateaubriand. "Chateaubriand," said
he, " is an old emigrant, who was appointed
secretary to Cardinal Fesch, when the latter was
ambassador to the court of Rocne, where he con-
trived to render himself dishked by the Pope and
864 A voici nwH ar. bbun a.
the cardinals, notwithstanding the galtmathiat
which he had published npoa Cbristianity. While
he was there, he endeavonrtd to persuade the old
king of Sardinia, who had abdicated and turned
religleuXf to renew his claims to the throne of
Sardinia. The king, sospecting him to be a mou-
ton. If mil h la parte, and made a complaint to
me of hia conduct, which caused his disgrace.
While I was in power, he was one of the most
abject of my flatterers. Cest un /an/aron tant
earactire, qui a rdme rampemte, et qui a la/ureur
de /aire de» Uvretr
I asked him some qnestions aboat Bemadottei
conduct. " Beraadotte," said he, ''was ungrato*
fnl to me, as I was the author of his greatness ;
but 1 cannot say that he betrayed me ; he in a
manner became a Swede, and never promised Ihdt
wliich he did not intend to perform. I can ac-
cuse him of ingratitude, but not of treachery.
Neither Murat nor he would have declared
against me, had they thought that it wouUl have
lost me my throne. The wish was to diminish
my power, but not to destroy me altoffether.
Murat's bravery was so great, that the Cossacs
used to express their admiration of him with
cries. They could not restrain their feelinijs. at
seeing a noble figure, advancing lilie a I<nia:ht of
old, and performmg such prodigies of valour."
▲ VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 365
" LaWdoydre," said he, " was a young man
animated by the noblest sentiments, and the most
sovereign contempt for a race that had surrounded
themselves with all that was most foreign to the
manners and rights of the French ; and with a set
of mis&ables, who, to avoid starvation, had vege-
tated for twenty-five years in inferior and disgrace-
ful situations. His attachment to me was enthu-
siastic, and he declared himself at the moment of
the greatest danger.**
Drouot he described to be one of the most
virtuous and unassuming characters in France,
though possessed of talent rarely to be met with.
Drouot was a man who would live as contentedly,
as far as regarded himself personally, upon forty
sous a day, as if he had the revenues of a sove-
reign. He was charitable and religious ; and a man
whose morals, probity, and simplicity, would have
been honoured in an age of stern republicanism.
30/A. — ^Went to Plantation House. After some
questions relative to Napoleon's state of health.
Sir Hudson Lowe said, that he had heard, in an
indirect manner, which it was not necessai-y for
him to explain to me, that General Bonaparte
was in a much worse state of health than I had
reported him to be ; that he desired, therefore,
whenever I went to town, that I would mention to
Mr, Baxter or Sir Thomas Reade the state of his
366 A VOICE FROM ST. HBIANA«
healthy which might prevent the necessity of my
coming to Plantation House to report on the day
I made them. That I might now mention to
Major Gorrequer what I had to say about his
health. Accordingly, I told the major that^ since
the 26th9 Napoleon had not suffered so much from
head-ach, especially in the right side of the head,
as I had extracted the tooth from that jaw ; that
the swelling in his cheeks was considerably less;
that his bowels were very costive ; that he had
some symptoms of dyspepsia, such as nausea and
flatulence ; that the pain in his side was not in-
creased, nor were his legs diminished in size ; that
on the whole, though the local complaint in his
cheek was better, there was no amelioration in his
general state of health. I also applied for a small
still, or alembic, in order to make some orange-
flower water, as there was none to be had on the
island ; which to Napoleon would have been very
grateful, and indeed necessary?*
February 3rd. — ^The Cambridge storeship ar-
I ived, bringing the melancholy news of the death
of the Princess Chariot te.-f-
Communicated this intelligence to Napoleon,
who expressed his affliction at the unfortunate
* This request was never complied wiih^ although frequently re*
[K\'ilecl.
t I have suppressed some of Napoleon's remarks on this event.
A TOXCB FROM ST. HBLENA. 367
event : as, independent of the feelings which natu*
rally arose at the fate of a princess, cut off in the
prime of youth and beauty, and with such pros-
pects before her ; he said, that he had not been
without hopes that she would have caused more
liberal policy to be adopted towards himself. He
inveighed against the accoucheurs, and expressed
his surprise that the populace had not stoned them
to death. He observed, that the business had a
strange appearance, and that precautions appeared
to have been taken to deprive the princess of every
thing necessary to support and to console her in
a first accouchement. He urged that some old
married women, who had frequently borne chil-
dren, ought to have been at her bedside to com-
fort her. Had they been present they would have
perceived that matters were going on wrong, and
would have insisted upon further assistance being
rendered. It was unpardonable in the old queen
not to have been on the spot. " What signified
Leopold," said he, " he is a garpouy and knew not
what to do. Had it not been for me," added he,
"Marie Louise would have died in a similar man-
ner. During the time of her labour, I was in an
apartment close by, from whence I went to her
room every now and then. After she had been
some hours in labour, Dubois, the accoucheur,
came to me while I was reclining on the sofa, with
368 X TOIOB FSOM ST, BB1.BMA.
great alarm, painted on his coanteoance, emd said,
* that the empress was in a state of great danger,
that there was a wrong presentation.* I asked bim
if be had ever seen any thing of the kind before:
Dubois replied, ' that be bad bnt very rarely, per-
haps not one tn a thousand, and that it was very af-
flicting to bim that so extraordinary a case should
happen with the empress.* * Forget,* s^d I, ' that
■he is empress, and treat her as you would the wife
of a little shopkeeper in the Rue St. Denis. This is
the only fovour I ask of yon- Dubois then asked,
*if it were necessary that one should be sacrificed,
which should he save, the mother or the child r*
'The mother certainly,' I replied, *it is her right.'
I then accompanied Dubois to the bedside, en-
couraged and tranquillized the empress as much
as possible, and held her while the forceps were
applied. The child was apparently dead, when
born, but by frictions and other means he was
restored to life. His birth produced a delirium
of joy in the nation. On the discharge of the first
gun, that announced the interesting; event, all the
population of Paris, in tlie greatest suspense, ran
into the streets the public walks, and the parks,
counting the number of guns. Twenty-one guns
were to have been fired for the birth of a prin-
cess, and one hundred and one for a prince
At the discharge of the twenty-second gun, the
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 369
Parisians rent the skies Math acclamations and ex-
pressions of universal delight. Almost all the
powers of Europe sent ambassadors extraordi-
nary to compliment me on the happy event. The
Emperor of Austria was represented as his god-
fether by his brother the Duke of Wurtsburgh,
vid the emperor Alexander sent his minister for
tbe home-department to Vans to express his satis-
&ction on the occasion.***
* Soon after the birth of young Napoleon^ his father contem-
plated building a superb palace^ nearly opposite to the Pont ^Jena,
which was to have been called Le Palais du Rot de Rome. The
goremment consequently endeayoured to purchase all the houses
iitaated upon the ground where it was intended to be built. Up-
on the spot of ground, which^ according to the plan that had
been traced out^ was to form the extreme right of the front of
the palace^ there was a small house belonging to a poor cooper
named Bonvivant^ which^ including the ground upon which it
itood^ was not^ at the highest estimation^ worth more than a
thousand francs. The owner demanded ten thousand francs. It
was referred to the emperor^ who ordered that it should be pur-
chased at that price. When the proper persons waited upon the
cooper to conclude the agreement^ he said^ that upon reflection^ he
should not sell it for less than thirty thousand francs. It was re-
ferred again to Napoleon^ who directed that it should be given
to him. When they came to conclude the business^ the cooper
increased his demand to forty thousand. The architect was
greatly embarrassed^ and did not know how to act^ or in what
manner he could again venture to annoy the emperor on the
labject; at the same time he knew that it was impossible to
conceal any thing from him* He therefore addressed him again
VOL. II. 3 B
370 A TinOI FROM n.^^IMHkJ
"Had die poor Princess Charlotte," added he,
"had some pyson about her, who would hare
acted with energy as I did, she would have been
saved. Now, through the neglect of ber relations,
and the imbe^ity, or something worse, of those
mis&abks of accoucheurs, it is iin[k>ssible to say
what calamities may befal the British empire.
" No sooner was it known," continued Napo-
leon, " that the interests of France had induced
me to dissolve the ties of my marriage, than the
greatest sovereigns of Europe intrigued for an
alliance with me. As soon as the Emperor (^
Austria heard that a new marriage was in agita-
tion, he sent for Narbonne, and expressed his sur-
prise that bis family had not been thought of. At
this tiirie an union with a piincess of Russia or
of Saxony was contemplated. The cabinet of
Vienna sent instructions on the subject to Prince
Schwartzenbuig', who was ambassador at Paris.
on the subject. " Ce dr6U li abvir," sniil lie, ";ioiir/fln( t^ n'^ a
pat d'aiitre tnoi/en : alloni il faul payer. The architect rptiimed
to the cooper who increased his price to fifty thouaand francs.
Napoleon, indignant, when infumied of it, snid, " Cel hommt la
eit un tmshable. el lien jf. naehallerai point la maiaon, el etie raUrit
eommc iin moiiumenl de man resprct pour tej loii." The B..iirlH.ns re-
turned, rnzcd the foundation of the intended palace, and threw down
what had been erected ; the cooper's hovel fell to ruins, and its mas-
ter, M. Bonvivant, now Uvea at Passy, Rue Basse, No. 31, wher« ha
eomg a miserable existence by his trado.
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 371
Despatches were also received from the ambas-
sador in Russia, stating the willingness of the
Emperor Alexander to offer his sister, the Grand
Duchess Anne. Some difficulties however pre-
sented themselves relative to the demand that a
chapel for the Greek ritual should be established
in the Thuilleries. A privy council was held
upon the subject, and the votes of the majority
were for an Austrian princess. I consequently
authorized Prince Eugene to make the overture
to Prince Schwartzenburg, and articles of mar-
riage, similar to those between Louis the Six-
teenth and Marie Antoinette, were signed. The
Emperor Alexander was not pleased that his
overtures were slighted, and thought that he had
been deceived, and that two negociations had been
carried on at the same time, in which he was mis-
taken.**
" It has been said," added Napoleon, ^^ that the
marriage of Marie Louise was one of the secret
articles of the treaty of Vienna, which had taken
place some months before; this is entirely false.
There was no thought whatever of an alliance
with Austria, previous to the despatch from Nar-
bonne, relating the hints which had been made to
him by the Emperor Francis and by Metternich.
In fact, the marriage with the Empress Marie
Louise was proposed in council, discussed^ de<
373 A VOICB FBOH ST. HBLBNA.
dded, and sigued within twenty-foar hours, which
can be proved by many members of the council
who are now in existence. Several were of opi-
nion that I ought to have esponsed a French wo-
man; and the arguments in favour of this were so
strong, as to incline me to balance for a moment.
It was hinted, however, by the Court of Anstria,
that, declining to chuse a princess out of one of
the rdgning Houses of Europe, would be a tacit
declaration of intentions to OTertnm them, what-
ever opportunities should present themselves."
lOth. — No improvement has taken place in Na-
poleon's health. Had some ccmversation with him
relative to the marriage of the Princess Elizabeth
with the Prince of Hesse HcHnburgh. ^'Tbe
English royal family," said he, " va * incana-
gllarxi with little petty princes, to whom I would
not have given a brevet of sous-Ueutenant. When
1 marched upon Ulm in 1805, 1 passed through
Stutgardt with my army, where I saw your princess
royal, the Queen of Wirtemberg.-f- with whom I
" A word probably invented by Napoleon, and intended to convey
B meaning of degradation in a very strong manner.
+ I liave been informed, from a source entitled to the highest
credit, that the Queen of Wirtembei^ wrote an account of this
interi'iew lo her mother Queen Charlotte, in which bIig expres^t'il
very favourable opinions of Napoleon, and, in dcscritiing his por-
■on, concluded in the following manner, " and ht Iia» to bcitiuA-
ing a tmiU"
A TOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 373
had several conversations, and was much pleased
with her. She soon lost whatever prejudices she
might have originally entertained against me. I
had the pleasure of interfering to her advantage,
when her husband, who was a brute, though a
man of talent, had ill treated her, for which she
was very grateful to me. She afterwards contri-
buted materially towards effecting the marriage
between my brother Jerome and the Princess Ca-
therine, daughter of the king by a former mar-
riage."
16M. — While in James Town, I was asked by
Mr. Barber of the Cambridge, who had opened a
shop in the town, " how did Bonaparte like the
portraits ?" being ignorant of his meaning, I asked
for explanations. He said, that I surely must
know what he alluded to, and after some further
conversation informed me that he had brought
out two engravings of young Napoleon, for sale,
thinking that it would please the French, and in-
duce them to give him some custom. That, on
his arrival, he had mentioned the circumstance,
and that both of the portraits had been taken by
the governor and Sir Thomas Reade, Sir Hudson
Lowe declaring that he was glad to have an op-
portunity of sending such articles to Bonaparte.
Mr. Barber appeared much surprised and disap-
374 ▲ VOICfl FROM ST. HBJLSNA.
pointed^ when he leaf ned from me that they had
not reached Longwood.*
17M. — ^Went to Plantatiim House. The go-
yemor, after having made some enqoiries aboat
the state of Napoleon*s healthy and that of General
Gourgaud^ and whether I had complied with the
desire he had expressed on th^ 2l8ty that I should
shew to Captain Blakeney the letter in which
Lord Liverpoprs name was mentioned ? I replied^
that as he had left it to my option, whether to
shew it or not, I had preferred the latter, seeing
that the^ibusiuess had occurred a long time ago ;
that at the time I had offered to shew it, which be
had refused to accept, and also because be had
said he considered the offer to shew it as an in-
sult. That it was necessary for ine to be very
cautious, and as I did not know why I was now
required to shew the letter, I had declined doing
so. His excellency was not pleased with this
reply, and began to abuse me in his customary
manner, saying, that " I constantly insulted him
as governor/' I replied that it never had been my
intention to insult him either in word or deed ;
that 1 was very sorry if constructions, so foreign
to my intentions, should have been put upon
them. Sir Hudson Lowe then got up, and look-
• On my dopartiire liKin St Hi'K"ii;i. in Augii<t, 1818, neiUier ol
the enjjTaving's batl been <t'ul to tiic t'aihcr.
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 375
ing at me in a menacing manner, said, ^^Upon
yoor word of honour, sir, *I ask you if you have
had any other conversations with Napoleon Bo-
naparte, than upon medical subjects, for a month
past r I replied, ^' perhaps there may have been
on other subjects, not interesting I" " I do not
allow you^ sir, to be a judge of whether they were
uninteresting or otherwise. You have no authority
for holding any communications with Napoleon
Bonaparte, unless upon medical subjects, and then
only when sent to for that purpose. Have you
bad any communication with any other person of
his family T *^ Certainly, sir, I have had.* With-
out waiting to know whether those communica-
tions were medical or otherwise, he burst out
with, "you have no authority, sir, to hold any
communication whatsoever with any of his family,
who are subject to the same restrictions as him-
self, unless upon medical subjects, and then only
when sent for; and when finished, you are to
leave them. You have no business to go amongst
them, unless for medical purposes. Have you, sir,
had any communication with any of them, un-
less upon those subjects ?" I replied, by referring
his excellency to his own orders, that I should
not hold any other communication than medical
with them. " This reply, sir, as usual, is not a
direct one. You make it a practice to go to town
376 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
when ships arrive, which I do not approve ot
You go to collect news for Greneral Bonaparte."
I answered, " that I was an English officer, and
as such, would not give up my rights; moreover,
that I, as well as others, was desirous of purchas-
ing the necessaries of life as soon as they were
landed, and before any monopoly took place to
increase the price. That, if he intended to prohi-
bit me from going to town, I had to request orders
to that effect in writing" This Sir Hudson re-
fused, saying with a sneer, " the request is wor-
thy of the place you came from, and the people
with whom you associate. I do not think a per-
son, under a pledge to Napoleon Bonaparte, ought
to be received into company, and I do not ap-
prove of your going to town when ships arrive.
You are suspected by me, sir." I replied, " that
I was under no other pledge to Napoleon, than
one which was tacitly understood in every society
of gentlemen." The governor said, " that it was
presumption and insolence for me to dare to
judge of the line of conduct his majesty's govern-
ment had thought proper to pursue with respect
to Napoleon Bonaparte." I replied, ^^ that I did
not attempt to judge of that, that I merely men-
tioned what was the custom of society." ** You are
a suspected man, sir, you are suspected by me^
^^ I cannot help that, sir. It is a consolation to
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 377
me, however, under such circumstances, to have
the mens conscia rectir This the governor said
was a fresh insult, which he followed up by a
volley of abuse.
*^ You took an opportunity, sir, of staying in
town the other day, when a ship, arrived, instead
of coming here to report, as you ought to have
done," said his excellency, after he had a little re-
covered his breath. " It was in compliance with
your own instructions, sir, on the 30th of January.
You then told me, in the presence of Major Gor-
requer, that when I saw Mr. Baxter or Sir Tho-
mas Reade in town, it might supersede the neces-
sity of my coming to Plantation House on that day.
Having, therefore, seen and explained to Mr. Bax-
ter on that day, what I had to say, I did not think
it necessary to come up here." He endeavoured to
shuffle this off. I appealed to Major Gorrequer,
if I had not repeated his excellency's own words ?
The governor said, in not the most moderate man-
ner, that this appeal was an insult to him, and
burst forth into a fresh paroxysm of invective,
which lasted for a considerable time.
18M. — Napoleon more lively than he has been
for a few days.
Had some further conversation with him upon
the subject of the death of the Princess Charlotte,
during which he observed, that had she been the
wife of a poor mechanic, she would have beeo
VOL. II. 3 c
eavedy and that one of ks dames de la haUe, ie
Paris would have met with more care and atten-
tion from her relations and friends^ than the heiress
to the greatest throne in Europe had experienced
from hers.
He afterwards spoke of the plans which he had
upon England.
^' Had I succeeded in effecting a landing,** said
hCj ^'I have very little doubt that I should have
accomplished my views. Three thousand boats^
each to carry twenty men and one horse, with a
propoi!tion of artillery^ . were ready. Your fleet
havi^ been decoyed away, as I before explained
to you, would have left me master of the Channd.
Without this, I would not have made the attempt^
Four days would have brought me to London.
In a country like England, abounding in plains,
defence is very difficult. I have no doubt that your
troops would have done their duty, but one battle
lost, the capital would have been in my power.
You could not have collected a force sufficiently
strong to beat me in a pitched battle. Your ideas
of burning and destroying the towns, and the ca-
pital itself, are very plausible in argument, but im-
practicable in their acconjplishment. You would
have fought a battle and lost it. ^Well then,' you
would say, ' we have been beaten, but we have
not lost our honour. We shall now endeavour
de tirer le meilleur parti from our misfortune.
r\ ,
A V<M€B FROM 8T» HBLXNA. 379
We ijiust make terms.* I would have offered you
ft constitution of your own choice, and have said,
'Assemble in London deputies from the people
to fix upon a constitution.* I would have called
upon Bnrdett and other popular leaders to or-
ganize one according to the wishes of the people.
I would have declared the * * fallen from the * * *
abolished the nobility, proclaimed liberty, free-
.dom, and equality. Think you, that in order to
-keep the house of ♦*♦ on the *♦♦ your rich
' citizens, merchants, and others of London, would
have consented to sacrifice their riches, their houses,
their families, and all their dearest interests, espe-
cially when I had made them comprehend that I
only came to ♦♦*♦♦♦ away, and to give them
liberty ? No, it is contrary to history and to hu-
man nature. You are too rich. Your principal
people have too much to lose by resistance, and
your canaille too much to gain by a change. If,
indeed, they supposed that I wanted to render
England a province of France, then indeed V esprit
national would do wonders. But I would have
formed a republic according to your own wishes,
required a moderate contribution, barely sufficient
to have paid the troops, and perhaps not even
that. Your canaille would have been for me,
* Ji^apoleon frequently used the word eafuaUe, not in a degrading
mme, but as the people, distinct firom the noUaa.
380 A TOICB FROM ST. HBLENX.
knowing queje suis rkomme dupeuple, queje son
de la canaitte moi-mhne, (that I am the man of the
people, that I spring from the populace myself,)
and that whenever a man had merit or talent,
I elevated him withont asking bow many de-
grees of nobility he bad ; knowing, that by joining
roe, they would be relieved from the yoke of the
aristocracy under which they labour. There is
not a canaille in the world, not even the Pmssiao,
worse treated. Excepting the obligation of serv-
ing as soldiers, the German canaille are better off
than yours. You have no more regard for yours
than if they were so runny Helots, and you treat
them precisely as if they were such. To my
lords and my ladies, to the aristocracy and the
genffemen, (in English) oh, indeed, you pay every
kind of attention and regard, nothing can be too
good for f hern ; no treatment kind enongii ; l)ut for
your camiilU; bad! tliey are so many chieiis ; as
your contractors said, when fnrnisliing provisions
to the Frencli prisoners, ' it is too good for those
French dogs.' Yon yourself liave got a great
deal of la ninrgue aristoa-athjiie in your head,
.and appear to look down upon your canaille as if
they were a race of inferior beings. You talk of
your freedom. Can any thing be more horrible
than yonr pressing of seaincMi r Yon send your
boats on shore to seize upon evei7 male that can
▲ VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 381
be found, who, if they have the misfortune to be-
long to the canaille, if they cannot prove them-
selves gentlemen, are hurried on board of your
ships, to serve as seamen in all quarters of the
globe. And yet you have the impudence to talk
of tlie conscription in France : it wounds your
pride, because it fell upon all ranks. Oh^ how
shocking, that a gentlemans son (in English)
should be obliged to defend his country, just as if
be were one of the canaille ! And that he should
be compelled to expose his body, or put himself
on a level with a vile plebian 1 1 Yet God made
all men alike. Who forms the nation ? Not your
lords, nor your fat prelates (panciuti) and church-
men, nor your gentlemen, nor your oligarchy.
Oh ! one day the people will revenge themselves,
and terrible scenes will take place."
" That conscription," continued Napoleon,
" which offended your morgne aristocratique so
much, was conducted scrupulously according to
the principles of equal rights. Every native of a
country is bound to defend it. The conscription
did not ^eraser a particular class like your press-
gang, nor the canaille, because they were poor. It
was the most just, because the most equal mode of
raising troops. It rendered the French army the
best composed in the world. The conscription
would have become a national institution, instead
3^ A TOICif FltOM Srri UELE\X.
of bdng r^arded as a paoishment or a serritade.
It would have been a point of honour to' hare
Berred the country, and the time would hare come,
that a gixi would not have married a youth that
had not paid the debt he owed to it. The love ot
glory is the inheritance of a Frenchman."
*' Were you a nation," continued he, " of half
savages, of poor wild mountaineers, or of ferocious
shepherds, like the Scythians ; then indeed yon
might destroy your capital, and desolate your
country, in order to stop the progress of an in-
vader. Even if you were as poor, as wild, and
as ignorant as the Spaniards, perhaps yon might
destroy some of your towns and habitations. But
yon are too rich and too selfish. Where is there
one of you would say, * I will destroy my liouse,
abandon my property to be pillaged, my wife and
daughters to be violated, my sons to be mas-
.siicred ! ! And for wliat ? To keep ♦*•**• on
the * *, and Lord Bathurst and the Archbishop
of Canterbury in tlioir employments of twenty
thousand a year. All this I will do against a
man who ofTers terms, who proposes to give us a
constitution according to the wish of the nation.'
No, no. It is more than could be expected from
i/wn. Pitt himself was well aware of it, and one
uf the means which lie took to form the coalition
against nie, was, by asserting, that a descent waa
A VOICS FROM ST. HELBNA. 383
possible ; that if it were effected England would be
conqdered before twelve months ; that then all the
continent would be at my mercy and my disposal ;
that England once fallen^ all was lost. This the
king of Prussia told me afterwards.**
Napoleon now repeated what he had said once
before relative to the inhabitants of Moscow not
having assisted in setting fire to the city ; but on
the contrary^ having done their utmost to extin*
£^ish it; and proceeded thus: "The English^
after a battle^ finding that we did not come to
plunder and destroy them^ that we did not injure
or molest the inhabitants^ that their wives and
daughters remained unviolated ; for I would not
liave allowed the smallest outrage to be committed.
Instant death would have been inflicted on who«
ever attempted it. They would have seen that
we did not come to rob, or to destroy them, but
merely to *♦♦ ♦♦♦. If, indeed, war were waged,
as in ancient times, when the male prisoners were
massacred or made slaves of, and the women be-
came the concubines of the victors, then the con-
quest of the nation would have been impossible.
But no : you would have seen us advancing, and
molesting the population as little as your own
soldiers. Every thing would have been done to
conciliate and to harmonize."
I now made some observations to Napoleon
S84 ▲ YOIGS FROM 8T. HBUINA.
about his own government in France. ^^ The sys-
tem of government^** said he, '^ must be adapted
to Vesprit de la nation, and to circumstances. In
the first place, France required a strong govern-
ment. While I was at the head of it, I may say
that France was in the same state as Rome, when
a dictator was declared necessary for the salvation
of the republic. Successions of coalitions against
her existence were formed by your gold amongst
all the powerful nations of Europe. To resist
successfully, it was necessary that all the energies
of the country should be at the disposal of the
chie£ I never conquered unless in my own de-
fence. Europe never ceased to make war upon
France and her principles. H nous fallut ahattre
sous peine cTStre ahattus. Between the parties that
agitated France for a long time, I was like a rider
seated on an unruly horse, who always wanted to
swerve either to the right or to the left; and to make
him keep a straight course, I was obliged to let
him feel the bridle occasionally. The government
of a country just emerged from a revolution, me-
naced by foreign enemies, and agitated by the
intrigues of domestic traitors, must necessarily be
dur. In quieter times my dictature would have
finished, and I should have commenced mv con-
stitutional reign. Even as it was, with a coalition
always existing against me, either secret or public,
A VOICE FROM ST. HELKNA. S85
openly avowed or denied, there was more equa-
lity in France than in any other country in Eu-
rope.
" One of my grand objects was to render educa-
tion accessible to every body. I caused every in-
stitution to be formed upon a plan which offered
instruction to the public, either gratis, or at a rate
so moderate as not to be beyond the means of the
peasant. The museums were thrown open to the
canaille. My canaille would have become the best
educated in the world. All my exertions were
directed to illuminate the mass of the nation, in-
stead of brutifying them by ignorance and super-
stition."
" Those English," added he, " who are lovei'S
of liberty, will one day lament with tears having
gained the battle of Waterloo. It was as fatal to
Ihe liberties of Europe in its effects as that of
Philippi was to those of Rome; and like it, has
precipitated Europe into the hands of triumvirs,
sxssociated together for the oppression of mankind,
the suppression of knowledge, and the restoration
of superstition."
Recounted to the emperor the treatment I had
experienced yesterday at Plantation House. " I
do not believe," said he, " that in all the armies
of Europe a man of so ignoble a character could
be found. It is the height of baseness for a supe-
VOL. II. 3 D
386 A ToicB ntoM sr. hklbna.
nor to insult officially^ an inferior. This man's
disposition makes him like a person afflicted with
an inveterate itch ; he has need of continually
rubbing against something. But independent of
his natural nneasiness, his intentions ar^ by bad
language and bad treatment, to irritate yon into a
breach of respect to him as governor, which he will
convert into an act of violence, and proceed against
yon for an attentat npon him in his official capa-
dty. Yon are in a very dangerous situation. He
has a witness, who is his creature, and who will
sign every thing that he dictates, and have no
other conscience or will than his. You have only
your own word to plead ; and this man's conduct
in endeavouring to make a spy of yon, by ill treat-
ment ami abuse, is so extraordinary, that people
unacfiuainted with him will with dilliculty believe
it. I see no otiier mode for you to act than to
maintain an absolute silence. Hear what he lias
to say, and reply not, unless in answer to medical
questions. To tliose he has a right to expect an
answer; but to any thing else say, 'I do not
know,' or, 'it is no business of mine.'"
20//;. — Underwent a few more interrogations
from Sir Hudson Lowe, in wliicli I had the good
fortune to leave liis house, without having been
assailed with any outrageous language.
2^rd. — Cipriani complained this day of inflara-
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 387
mation of the bowels, which from the moment he
made it known to me presented most formidable
appearances. He was very largely bled, put into
a warm bath, and recourse had to all the vigorous
remedies usually administered in such cases. Only
temporary relief, however, was obtained ; and the
unfavourable symptoms returned with increased
aggravation. It was soon evident that his life was
in the most imminent danger; and the advice and
assistance of other professional men were called
in. All, however, was useless, and the complaint
was rapidly hurrying him on to dissolution, Ci-
priani himself, although conscious of his danger,
preserved the greatest calmness and comjiosure,
Njipoleon, who had an affection for him as his coun-
tryman, and a man wholly devoted to his service,
was extremely anxious for his recovery, and fre-
quent in his enquiries. On the 25th, Cipriani was
in a state in which perrons labouring under the
same complaint are sometimes seen. He had ex-
perienced some relief from suffering ; but it was
doubtful whether it arose from the diminution of
the violence of the complaint, or was that cessa-
tion of pain preceding dissolution, produced by
mortification. The last was my own opinion ;
but there was nothing certain. He was in a state
of extreme weakness. Nourishment was admi-
nistered to him at short intervals, which was re-
388 A TOICS FKOM ST. BELBNA.
taioed on hu stomach. While in this state of
doubt^ Napoleon, with whom I had been repeat-
edly during the day to report tbe state of the
paUent, sent for me at twelve o'clock at night. I
mentioned that Cipriani was lying in a kind of
stupor. " I think," siud be, " that my appearance
before poor Cipriani would act as a stimulus to
slumbering nature, (la natura che iorme) and wtU
rouse her to make new efforts which may finally
overcome the disease and save tbe patient," He
endeavoured to illustrate this by describing the
electric effects which bad been produced in many
instances, by his appearance on the field of battle
at most critical moments and times. I replied,
that Cipriani was still sensiUe ; and that I knew
the love and veneration lie hud for liis master to
be so great, that on his appearance before liiiii, he
would make an effort to rise in liis bed, ivliieh
exertion, in tlie weak state in wliiclt he was, would
probably produce -syncope, during; which his soul,
already tra si e no, to quit or to remain in its
eartlily tenement, would most probably take its
departure * After tliis and other explanations on
the subject. Napoleon acquiesced in my oj)iiiioii,
that he should not try the experiment ; observing--,
• It is well koiiivn to niFdioiil i>en|>le, iliat in cases of great dtbi-
lily, the mere raising of a patient's licad from tlie pilWw J,as st-nie-
tinier prodiicfd dissulutioti.
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 389
tbat in snch cases, les hommes de Fart were the
best judges.
At ten o'clock the foUovdng morning, symp-
toms decidedly mortal made their appearance,
and about four, poor Cipriani was numbered with
the dead.
Cipriani was a man possessed of strong, but
uncultivated talents. Though artful, he had the
appearance of openness and candour. He liad,
however, many good qualities, He was generous
and charitable. Like most of his countrymen, lie
was an ardent friend, and a bitter enemy, and had
strong national spirit. He was a republican in
principle, and manifested more attachment to Na-
poleon in his misfortunes, than he had ever shewn
for him in his grandeur. He was regarded by his
master in a very confidential light. Had he en-
joyed the benefit of an early education, he would
probably have made a figure in the revolution.
He had been unwell for several days before he
complained, during which, in all prol)ability, la-
tent inflammation had been going on. His corpse
was followed to the grave* by Counts Bert rand
and Montholon, by myself, and by all the house-
hold who could attend. So much was he esteemed
at St. Helena, that several of the most respectable
of the inhabitants, and some of the officers of the
• See Count Bertrand's letter, Appendix, No. XII.
S90 ▲ VOICB FROM ST. HBLBNA*
66th regiment, yolimtarily joined the funeral pro^
cession. Had he been buried within the limits.
Napoleon himself would have attended.
Immediately after his death, I reported the cir«
cumstance to Napoleon, who remarked, ^ Where
is his soul ! Gone to Rome, perhaps, to see bis
wife and child, before it undertakes the long final
journey."
Some days before his demise, Cipriani told me,
that not long after the governor had put into execu-
tion his rigorous measures towards the inmates of
Longwood, Santini, who was of a merry di^>o-
sition, bad been observed to be much altered, and
apparently thoughtful and melancholy. One day
he came into Cipriani^s room, and avowed his in-
tention of shooting the governor the first time that
the latter came to Longwood. Cii)riani asked
him if he was mad, and endeavoured to dissuade
him from the attempt, by using all the arguments
in his power. Although Cipriani had much influ-
ence over him, Santini was unmoved, and accom-
panied his declaration \vith many oiiths jx^culiar
to the inferior order of Italians. lie had his dou-
ble-barrelled gun loaded with ball, with which
he intended to despatch the governor, and then to
finish himself. Cipriani, finding his arguments
fruitless, went to Napoleon, to whom he conunu-
nicated the affiiir. The emperor immediately scut
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 391
for^ and qaestioned Santini^ who avowed his in-
tentions. Napoleon then commanded him, as his
emperor, to drop all thoughts of injuring Sir Hud*
son Lowe, and succeeded, though not without
some reluctance on the part of Santini, in making
him abandon his project Santini was a most de-
termined character, and brave as a lion. Besides
being master of the small sword, he had a sure and
deadly aim with fire-arms ; and there is little doubt,
that had it not been for this prohibition, he would
have effected his intentions.
Marchy 6th. — ^The progress of the disease in the
emperor continues to advance a little, though
slowly. Found him reading a volume of Corneille,
upon whom he pronounced some warm eulogiums,
observed, that to the sentiments which he inspired,
France was indebted for some of her glorious
deeds, and added, that if Corneille had lived in
his time, he would have made him a prince.
He then conversed about himself, said, that he
believed nature had calculated him for great re-
verses— that he had a soul of marble. After
which he made some comparisons of his own con-
duct with that adopted by his enemies towards
him.
^' If I had been actuated by the spirit which
prevailed with the Bourbons," said he, "or even
according to the laws of reciprocity, I should have
392 A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA.
caused the Dae d'AngnUme to be tried, in re-
taliation for the attempts he had made upon m^
the proscription ag^nst nij person by the Bour-
bons, and the declaration of the allied ponders,*
placing me out of the pale of the law, and in-
viting my assassiQation. By the lairs of the na-
tional assembly, existing against any of the mem-
bens of his family who should re-enter France,
I could have had him shot within twenty-four
hours. Instead of doing so, I ordered that every
respect should be paid to him, and care taken of
his person, and that he should be conducted to
Cette for embarkation."
" Maitland," said Napoleon, "was not an ac-
complice in the snare that was Imd for me by your
ministers, when tliey gave him orders to leceive
uie on boai'd of his ship.-j- He is im brave hoiiune,
and incapiiblc of participating in thi; infimious
transaction that took place. He was deceivcil, as
well as niysulf, and probably in bringing; nie to
England, thonglit that I siionld have been allownl
to live there, subject to such restrictions as bad
been imposed upon my brother Lucien." He then
observed, that he iiad formed too good an opinion
of the English, and had believed tlie infinence of
the voice of the people upon the ministers, to have
been much more powerful tlian It was in realilv
• See Apiiendix, No. XIII. t See Ai-penUin, No. XIV.
A VOICE FROM 8T. HELENA. 393
* Previous to going on board of the Bellerophon,**
added he, '^some debates were held upon the pro-
priety of the measure. Some naval officers, to
whom it was mentioned, strongly urged that I
should not venture on such a step. They said,
the English are the most interested people on
earth. Interest is their god, and they will calcu-
late what may result from ill or well treating you.
If they think that they shall gain any thing by it,
they will hurry you away, and bury you in one of
their colonies, where you will be exposed to every
species of bad treatment, that hatred can suggest.
They were right,** added he, " some of them had
been in the pontons, and knew what you were
better than I did. I did not conceive it possible
that a great nation could countenance the perse-
cution of one man, who had fallen into their hands^
after having been twenty-five years their enemy.**
He then delivered, as follows, some explana-
tion of the causes which had produced his fall :
'* Had it not been for that fatal suspension of
arms, in 1813, to which I was induced to consent
by Austria, I should have succeeded. The vic-
tories of Lutzen and Wurtzen had restored confi-
dence in the French forces. The King of Saxony
was triumphantly brought back to his capital ; one
of the corps of the French army was at the gates of
Berlin, and the enemy had been driven from Ham«
vou II. 3 B
394 ▲ TOICB FROM gr. HSLBNA.
bargh. The Russian and Prussian armies were
preparing to pass the Vistula, when the cabinet of
Austria, acting with its characteristic perfidy, ad-
vised the suspension of hostilities, at a time when
it had already entered into engagements with
Russia and Prussia; the armistice was only a
delusion to gain the time necessary to make pre-
parations, it being intended to declare against
France in May. The unexpected successes
obliged it to act with more circumspection. It
was necessary to gain more time, and negocia-
tions w^nt on at the congress of Prague. Met-
temich insisted that Austria should have the half
of Italy, and made other exorbitant conditions,
which were only demanded in order to be re-
fused. As soon as she had got her army ready,
Austria declared against France. After the vic-
tory of Dresden, I was superior, and had formed
the project to deceive the enemy, by marching to-
wards Magdeburgh, then to cross the Elbe at
Wittenberg, and march upon Berlin. Several di-
visions of the army were occupied in these ma-
noeuvres, when a letter was brought to me from
the King of Wirtemberg, announcing that the Ba-
varian army had joined the Austrians, and to the
amount of eighty thousand men, were marching
towards the Rhine, under the command of Wredc;
that he, being compelled by the presence of that
▲ VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 395
army, was obliged to join his contingent to it, and
that Mentz would soon be invested by a hundred
thousand men.
" This unexpected defection entirely changed
the plan of the campaign, and all the preparations
made to fix the war between the Elbe and the
Oder, became useless. At Leipsic, afterwards, I
was victorious on the 16th, and should have suc-
ceeded on the 18th, had not the whole Saxon
army, which occupied one of the most important
positions in the line, deserted to the enemy, with a
train of sixty pieces of cannon, which were imme-
diately turned against the French. Notwithstand-
ing this, the field of battle remained in possession
of the French, and the allies made a retrograde
movement on the same day. During the night I
ordered the army to retire upon our supplies be-
hind the Ister. The defection of some other Ger-
man corps afterwards, and the premature blow-
ing up of the bridge at Leipsic, caused the most
disastrous effects. When the army had passed
the Saale, it should have rested to recover from
its fatigues, and receive ammunition and other
supplies from Erfurth. Intelligence, however,
arrived, that the Austro-Bavarian army under
Wrede, had arrived on the Mein by forced marches,
and it was necessary to march against it. Wrede
was driven from his position at Hanaw^ com-
pletely beaten^ and himself wounded. Confer-
ences afterwards took place at Francfort^ and
proposals for peace were offered on condition
that I shonld renounce the protectorate of the
confederation of the Rhine^ Poland, and the de^
partments of the Elbe ; but that France should
be preserved in her limits of the Alps and the
Rhine. Those conditions were accepted as bases.
This congress, however, like the others, turned
out to be a delusion, as at the moment that those
pacific proposals were made, the allies violated
the neutrality of Switzerland, which they entered
in large force. At Chatillon, afterwards, they pre-
sented their ultimatum, in which they demanded
that France should be reduced to the limits she
had previous to 1792, which I rejected. Had it
not been for the subsequent treachery of Talley-
rand, Marmont, and Augereau, the allies would
not have succeeded in forcing upon the throne a
detested family, against whom, for twenty-five
years, the nation has combated; and France would
not have been degraded by the spectacle of a
king upon the throne, who had the baseness pub-
licly to declare that he owed it to the Prince
Regent of England."
28th, — Twenty-seven volumes of books were
sent to Longwood by Sir Hudson Lowe on the
12th, and seven on this day, with some numbers
▲ VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 397
of the Lettres Normandes et Champenoises. These
formed the entire of the supply of books and
pamphlets sent by his majesty's ministers,* (or
through them,) since the arrival of the Phaeton in
1816. Napoleon, observed, " Ce^t une hassesse
dont je ne croyais pas meme que Lord Bathurst
ftU capable."*
It has been a rule-f* for some time, that all cap-
tains of merchant ships which arrive, are obliged
to submit a list of their books, newspapers, &c. to
Sir Hudson LowC) and those of a political nature
are specifically required to be sent to him, under
a pretence of desiring to forward them to Long-
wood, where, however, none of the books have
arrived ; and but very few newspapers. The
Edinburgh Review is specially sought after by
his excellency and staff.
* Mr. Goulbourn promised Count Las Cases on the return of
the latter to Europe^ that every interesting book and new publi-
cation should be sent to Longwood^ with a copious and regular
supply of newspapers^ French and English, of different descrip-
tions. Whether the worthy secretary performed his promise or
not, I am not able to say. None^ however^ except some uncon-
nected numbers of the Times and Courier, Observer^ &c. with a
few straggling French papers of a very old date^ reached Long-
wood during my residence there. In one instance^ in March^
1817, I think, the governor permitted me to take the Morning
Chronicle for some weeks, as a great favour, which was not again
repeated.
t See Appendix. No. XV.
398 A VOICB FROM 8T. HBLBNA.
jipril 4th. — Some days ago a circumstance oc*
curred which threw some light upon the motives
which had induced the governor to oblige me to
visit Plantation House twice a week. One of the
foreign persons residing in the island informed
Count Montholon, that the commissioners had
seen an account of the state of Napoleon*s healthy
in the bulletin of that day. Count Montholon
knowing that no bulletins were issued by me^
asked for explanations, which were given ; and by
which it appeared that surreptitious bulletins were
made by a person who never saw Napoleon^ and
who consequently could not be a judge of his
complaint. Those fictitious reports were sent from
Plantation House to the commissioners, and trans-
mitted by them to their respective courts. I ap-
j)rehen(l that every conscientious reader will be
of opinion that those bulletins ought to have I)eea
shewn to me, I being the only medical man who
saw the patient, and consequently the only |)cr.ion
capable of judging of their correctness.*
10///. — Sir Hudson Lowe having failed in the
application that he made in London to procure
* Sir Hudson Lowe, ulicn he could no longer refrain from trivin;;
some account of tliis transaction, endeavoured to slur it over, bv
statin*^ to Count Bertrand that the fictitious bulletins were merelv
repetitions of my conversations with Mr. Baxter. U this were true,
'jt'liy conceal them from me ?
A TOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 399
my removal from St. Helena, had recourse to an
expedient which insured him success. - He caused
a letter to be written to me this day by Sir
Thomas Reade, in which he informed me that I
was not to pass out of Longwood, without assign-
ing any reasons for a measure by which it appeared
that the governor had imposed upon me restric-
tions even more arbitrary and vexatious than those
which he had inflicted upon the French ; for by
confining me to Longwood, within the precincts of
which he allowed no persons to enter without a
pass, he deprived me of English society ; while at
the same time he prohibited me from holding any
other intercourse, even with the French, than that
relating to my profession * As soon as I received
this letter, I went to the Briars, with the intention
of laying the affair before Admiral Plampin, who
sent word by his secretary that he would not see
me. I then wrote a letter to Sir Hudson Lowe,
tendering my resignation, and another to Count
Bertrand, in which I explained the step that I had
been compelled to take, and the motives which
urged me to adopt it.
14M. — ^Napoleon sent for me to give me an au-
dience prior to my departure. During which he
declined receiving any more medical advice from
. * It is almost unnecessary for me to explain to the reader that I
was neither able nor inclined to obey this arbitrary mandate.
400 A TOICE PXOM ST. HBLINA.
me ia the situation in which I was placed by Sir
Iladson Lowe, and addressed me in the following
words : "Eh hien, Docteur, vous allez nous quitter.
Le monde amcevra-t-U qiion aeula Idcheti d'atteu-
ter i mon mddecin ? Puisque vous ites un simple
lieutenant, soumis d tout Varbitraire et d la disctp-
line militaire, vous liaoesi plus Vinddpendance nAxs-
aaire pour que vas secourt puissent nietre utiles ;je
vous remerfde de vos soins. Quittex le plutdt'possi-
ble ce s^our de fibres et de crimes ; Je mourrat
sur ce grabat, rongd de maladie et sans secours;
mais votre nation en sera d^konor^e d JamatsJ^
He then bade me adieu.
JHoff 9th. — Sir Hadson Lowe finding that be
could not sacceed in his plan of establishing
" "Well, Doctor, you are going to quit us. Will tiie world
conceive lliut tlipf linvc lieen bnse enough to ni.ike attetiiptj upon
nant, subjceled to urbitriiry power and to niiiitaiy diMijiline,
jou have no longer tlie iiidepcmience necessary to rt-ndiT your
servicca useful to me. I lliank you for your c.ire. Quit ns soon
et you can lliis alioile of darliness and of crimes, I shall e\\<\n
upon tliat pallet consumed by disease, and wilhout niiv bssUI-
ance. But your country will be ctLTually di>bonourcd by my
death." It may be proper to inform the reader, that thou:;Ii
Napoleon generally conversed in It;ilian iviih me, as I spoke the
langu.ige with considerable fluency, from having resided several
years in that classical countrj', whenever be became animatwi,
lie always broke out into Freoch, and aLio whenever be -tm at n
luSB for a word.
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 401
another surgeon with Napoleon ; and that the lat-
ter was determined not to receive him, and having
been made to comprehend by the commissioners,*
that if Napoleon died while he kept me in confine-
ment (without bringing me to a trial, or even pre-
ferring any charge against me) or under the hands
of any surgeon forced upon him, strange surmises
would arise in England and in Europe respecting
his death, of which they themselves should be
unable to render a satisfactory explanation, de-
cided upon removing the restrictions he had im-
posed upon me. NAccordingly he released me, after
having kept me in confinement twenty-seven days ;
during which time I was successively assailed,,
in correspondence, by all his staflF; and in order
to ensnare me, frequently required to return by a
dragoon who waited, answers to letters composed
after several days' reflection, by the united wisdom
of Sir Hudson Lowe and his staff. As this cor
* I have been informed that some very animated discussions took
place at Plantation House on this subject^ in one of which the go-
vernor^ while debating with Baron Sturmer^ burst forth into one
of the paroxysms of anger he so frequently manifested towards me.
The baron very coolly made his excellency stop opposite to a large
looking-glass^ in which he begged of him to contemplate his own fea-
tures, adding, that he should not desire to afford his court a better
representation of what was occurring at St. Helena^ than the figure
in the mirror before him.
voL« n. 3 F
402 A VOICE FROM ST. HKLBNA.
respondence has been already before the public,
I shall not now trouble the reader with it.
In the letter contmning the order for my release,
his excellency felt himself obliged to acknowledge
me as Napoleon's private surgeon, a point which
he had contested before.
A despatch sent by Sir Hudson Lowe to Long-
wood, containing some extracts from a correspon-
dence of IjOrd Bathurst, stating, amongst other
matters, that permission would be given, that a list
of persons, not exceeding fifty in number, resident
on the island, should be drawn up by Count Ber-
trand and submitted to the governor for approv^
and that such persons should be admitted to
Longwood at seasonable hours, with no other pass
than the invitation of Genera! Bonaparte; it being
understood, that they were on such occasions to
deliver in their invitations with their names, as
vouchers at the barrier ; it being clearly under-
stood, that the governor was to reserve a discre-
tionary power, to erase from the list any indivi-
duals to whom he miglit consider it inexpedient
to continue such facility of access.
lOM. — Previous to allowing me to resume my
medical functions at Longwood, Napoleon, in
order to put a stop to the fabrication of any
more bulletins, required that I should make out a
report of the state of his health once a week, or
A VOICR FROM ST. HBLBNA. 403
oftener if necessary ; a copy of which should be
given to the governor if he required it. This I
immediately communicated to Sir Hudson Lowe,
who not only did not require it, but absolutely
prohibited me from making him (Sir Hudson) any
written report.
NapoIeon^s state of health had become worse
since last month. The pain was more constant
and severe, &c.
Considerable indignation was excited in the
island at the conduct which had been pursued to-
wards Napoleon.
16M. — A proclamation issued by Sir Hudson
Lowe, and placarded in the most conspicuous
places, interdicting all oflScers, inhabitants, and
t)ther persons whatsoever, from holding any cor-
respondence or communication with the foreign
persons under detention on it.*
18/A. — Captain Blakeney ordered by Sir Hud-
son Lowe to assemble all tlie English servants at
Longwood, and read to them the proclamation of
the 16th. This was done without notice being
given to their masters. Napoleon, when informed
of this, orilered that the English servants, em-
ployed at Longwood House, in place of Santini
and the others sent away by Sir Hudson Lowe,
should be discharged.
* See Appendix^ No. XVI.
404' A TOIW FBOH 8T. BBUHIA.
SMA.— Had some conversation witb tbe emperor
upon the work published by Mr. Ellis on the em-
bassy to China, and the conreitetion at Longwood
which that gentleman had pablisbed. Napoleon
observed} that having learned that Mr. Ellis had
been secretary to a mission to Persia, a short time
alter General Gardanne had quitted Ispahan, he
had questioned him as to the progress that Russia
bad made od the Persian side. " I told him'
added Nt^Mlecm, " that if Russia succeeded in at-
taching the brave Polish nation to her, she would
no longer have a rival, because she would restrain
England, by menacing tbe latter's possesions in
India; and Austria by the great moral superiori^
of her troops, and by tbe followers of tbe Greek
church, who are so numerous in Hungary and Giil-
licia; and that appearances rendered it probable
that a Greek patriarch would one day ofliciatc in
Sancta Sopliia. I also mentioned to him, that if
England adopted tiie system of founding her power
upon her land forces, and on maintaining; armies
on the continent, those armies would mask lier real
forces and she would commit the same fault that
Francis the First was guiityof at the battle of Pavia,
by placing himself with the Hite of his cavalry before
a formidable battery, which would have assured
him the victory, had he not prevented it from firing
by masking it. I told him that your riots in Eng-
A TOICE FROM ST. HELENA, 405
land signified nothing, and that your constables
were sufficient to re-establish order, if at the same
time your ministers directed all their attention and
care towards the amelioration of the administra-
tion, to the prosperity of your manufactures and
your commerce. That above all, you must not
be ashamed of being merchants; from that source
your power springs ; but that if the misery was
real, as asserted by Lord Wellesley, and was
caused by the too great efforts made by England
during twenty years, in that case too violent mea-
sures employed upon the mass of the people
would be topical applications likely to produce
madness in them. I said that you have amongst
you men too wise, not to open, at the same time
that they applied these violent remedies, channels
which would discharge the acrimonious humours,
restore health and ease to the people, and cause
misery to disappear.
^'During all the conversations I had with Mr.
Ellis," continued he, " which lasted about half
an hour, not one word was said about St. Helena.
Count Montholon had no conversation on the
subject with Mr. Ellis, or any other of the lega-
tion. Mr. Ellis made no enquiries on the spot,
never visited the interior of the establishment,
knew nothing, saw nothing, and heard nothing
about it, at least from the French. And yet in
his work be has the impudence to play the pavt of
a judge, who Iiad heard tbe complaioing parlies
on the spot. But that passage has not been
written by his hand. It is the invention of some
commis to Lord Bathurst, who bas imposed the
insertion of it upon hint. Such a prostitution ef
his name reflects but little credit upon that diplo-
matic cbaracter."*
He made some observations upon tbe conti'B&t
between tbe goveraor's proclamation and coodnct,
and tbe despatcbes sent by Lord Batburst ; said
that the despatch was merely got up to have tU
appearance of doing swnetbing to benefit his utoa-
tioD, while in reality nDthing was done.
In the course of the conversation, Naptdeon
observed, tbat but little reliance was to be placed
on the writings of a man, in forming a judgment of
his private character or conduct, wliicli he illus-
trated by informing rae tbat Bcrnardin St. l*ierre,
whose writings were so sentimentally beautiful,
and breathing principles of humanity and social
happiness in every page, was one of the worst
private characters in France.
June 7th. — Tlie Mangles storcship arrived.
Wih. — With the exception of tbe painful inflam-
matory affection of the clieeks, tbe so ftx-qiieiit
■ Mr. EUia has Blnce been appAmled to s hicnilive Kltti.-iUfm.
mt the Cape of Good Mope, vhick, I believe^ is iu the gift of Ittnl
Battiiu»t
A TOICE FROM 8T« HELENA. 407
recurrence of which has been prevented by the
extraction of two more teeth, Napoleon s state of
health has become much worse. He accordingly
consented on this day to adopt the practice recom-
mended to him, which was consequently com-
menced on this day. He has been confined almost
entirely to his apartments for nearly six weeks.
20th. — ^The ofSicers of the 53rd regiment had
done me the honour to elect me an honorary mem-
ber of their mess ; and on the departure of that
regiment from the island, the officers of the GGth
had conferred a similar honour upon me. Sir Hud*
son LfOwe employed Sir Thomas Reade to fill the
mind of Lieutenant Colonel Lascelles (the com*
manding officer) with the most insidious calumnies
against me, in consequence of which Lieutenant
Colonel Lascelles called upon Lieutenant Rear-
don of the regiment (a friend of mine), to whom he
related that it had been insinuated to him by Sir
Tliomas Reade, that I had become displeasing to
the sight of the governor, that the officers of the
regiment ought to expel me from their mess, as a
person who had submitted to insults from the go-
vernor, who had turned me out of his house, and
consequently that I was unfit for their society;
insinuating also that my expulsion would be very
agreeable to Sir Hudson Lowe, who, he observed,
had said that he should consider any person who
408 A TOICB FROM ST. HBUENA.
was seen to associcite with me as his pei'sonal
enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Lascelles concluded
with begging of Lieutenant Reardon to persuade
me to withdraw privately from the mess, as my
presence there was obnoxious to the governor ;
protesting however, that personally he had a great
esteem for me, and that he would he one of the first
to invite me to dine there as a guest.
Reflecting, that if I slunlt away secretly, oppor-
tunity would be furnished to my enemies to paint
me in the blackest colours, and to represent that
my conduct had been such as to compel the officers
of the 6Gth to turn me out of the mess, and, being
conscious of upright intentions, I iramecUately
wrote to Lieutenant Colonel Ijascelles, the letter in
the appendix marked No. XVII. In tlie evening I
met liim coming to see mc. He made many profes-
sions of friendship and esteem for me, but said, tliat
as the governor was displeased witii me, he begged
I wotdd witlidraw privately from the mess, tliat
Sir Hudson Lowe desired it, and that lie was
afraid of his resentment being exercised upon hitii-
self, and upon the officers of tiie regiment, if I did
not comply with his wislies. He concluded by
stating, that Sir Thomas Rcade had shewn him
part of my correspondence with the governor,
and some secret documents which had never
been conmiunicated to me, and professing his
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 409
esteem ; in which sentiment he said, he knew he
was joined by every officer in the regiment. I
replied^ that clandestine misrepresentations, from
their being unknown to me, might remain unre-
futed, that no person was secure from the breath
of calumny ; that, however, I was ready to sub-
mit the whole of the correspondence between the
governor and myself to the judgment of the officers
of the regiment, or to submit to any other scrutiny
that he or they might desire, and to abide by their
decision ; but that I never would renounce the
honour which the officers of the 66th had conferred
upon me in granting me a seat at their table unless
(according to the custom of the army) by a vote of
the mess, or by an order from the governor.
This reply was communicated to Sir Hudson
Lowe, who, probably having his own reasons
for not allowing the correspondence to be sub-
mitted to the judgment of a corps of officers, sent
an order by Brigadier General Sir George Bing-
ham (as I have been informed) to Lieutenant Co-
lonel Lascelles, to exclude me from the mess,
which was comunicated to me by the following
letter, without assigning any reason for such act.
DeadxDQod, 23rd Juncm
Dear Sir, — ^As commanding officer of the 66th
regiment, I beg leave to inform you, that I feel it
VOL. II. 3 o
410 A VOICE FROM 8T. HELENA.
expedient on my part to say, that I cannot any
longer allow you to be an honorary member of the
GGth's mess,
I am, dear Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
C. Lascblles.
Barry OMeara^ Esq.
Being desirous of obtaining every authentic in-
formation to establish the fact, that this new out-
rage had been effected by the orders of Sir Hud-
son Lowe, I waited upon Sir George Bingham, by
whom I was very politely received, and informed,
that he had been commanded to carry into execu-
tion the above order.
25th. — Sent the following letter to the Dead-
wood camp : —
To the Officers of the 66th Regiment.
Gentlemen, — In consequence of the extraor-
dinary mission which I accepted, having been de-
tached from that branch of the service to which I
belong, the officers of the 53rd regiment, taking
into consideration the isolated situation in which I
was placed, were pleased to do me the honour
of electing me an honorary member of their mess
in which I continued as long as the regiment re-
mained in the island. You, gentlemen, shortly
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 411
after your arrival, condescended to confer upon
me a similar honour, by which 1 have benefited
for nearly a year. By a fatality, which at this
moment persecutes me, orders emanating from a
superior power prohibit me from any longer enjoy^
ing, in your society ^ the great, the only consolation
it was possible for me to experience in this dreary
abode. I cannot, however, return to my solitude^
without returning my most sincere thanks to you
for the many marks of friendship and kindness
with which you have honoured ine, and to assure
you, that the esteem, respect, and gratitude, which
I bear to you, individually and collectively, are
indelibly engraven upon the heart of one, who
at his last moments, will exult in saying that he
was deemed worthy a seat at your table.
I have the honour to be.
Gentlemen,
With the greatest respect.
Your most obliged Friend,
(Signed) Barry E. O'Meara,
Surgeon^ Royal Navy.
Longwood, 2Sth, June, 1818.
26th, — ^The officers of the 66th regiment were
pleased to return the following reply: —
Deadwood, 96/A June, 1819.
Dear Sir, — As president, last nighty I had the
412 A VOICE FROM 3T. UELRNA.
honour of communicating to the mess the con-
tents of your letter of the 25tb instant^ and am di«
rected by the commanding officer and officers com^
posing it, to say it is with much regret they hear
of your departure as an honorary member of the
Tness^ and to assure you^ they always conceived
your conduct while with them, to be perfectly
consistent in every respect with that of a gentle*
man.
I am also directed to say, the mess feel much
indebted for the very flattering expressions of es«
teem contained in your letter.
And have the honour to be.
Dear Sir,
Your very humble Servant,
(Signed) Ch*; McCarthy,
Lit^ut. 66tli Re^^nnient.
To Barry O'Meara, Esq.
Surgcoriy li. N. Lonr/wood.
27th. — Napoleon much affected by a severe
catarrhal affection, caused by the extreme humi-
dity of his rooms. Discontinued some of the
remedies he was taking, and reported the state of
his health to the g-overnor.
Jutf/ loth, — Several cases of wine, sent by the
Princess Borghcse through Lady Holland, arrived
last month. A few were sent to Longwood, and
K
I r
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 413
the remainder deposited in the government stores
by order of Sir Hudson Lowe. Napoleon ex-
pressed on this, as well as on many other occa-
sions^ sentiments of great affection towards the
Princess Pauline, and declared his conviction
that no sacrifice would be too great for her to
make for his benefit ; adding, that he had no
doubt she would endeavour to obtain permission
to come out to St. Helena.* He also spoke of
the Princess Hortense in veiy higli terms, whom
he pronounced to be a lady possessed of very su-
perior talents. Likewise of the Princess Eliza.
He expressed in a very handsome manner his
sense of the attention and kindness manifested for
him in his misfortunes by Lady Holland, at a
time when he was abandoned by many, from whose
gratitude he had reason to expect some little no-
tice. He observed that the members of the family
of the great Fox abounded in liberal and generous
sentiments.
20/A. — Went to town, and tried to procure a
copy of the observations on Lord liathurst's
speech, some of which I was informed had arrived
on the island. Captain Bunn, of the Mangles, to
whom I applied for one, professed his surprise
* The princess subsequently demanded permission to proceed to
the place of her brother's ei^ile^ as will be teen in the Appendix,
No. XVIII.
414 A VOrCE FKO-.I ST. HELENA.
that such an application should be made from a
person belonging to Longwood, for immediately
after his arrival. Sir Hudson Lowe and Sir Tho-
mas Reade bad taken five copies of the pampblet
from him, assigning as a r^on for taking so many,
that they wanted to send two or three to Long-
wood. He added, that those two persons bad
been very particular in requiring him to render aa
account of the books that he he had brought out,
and bad possessed themselves of all the modem
publications on political subjects, making a de-
mand for all the copies of the Edinburgh Review
he might have brought with him.
35M. — ^After having paid a professional vidt to
Napoleon, whose malady was by no means altered
for the better, and while entering my room at
about half past fonr o'clock, Ciiptairi lilukciicy
delivered to me the following letter:*
rl.oiladon riouic, Juli, Qilh, IS13.
Sir, — I am diiceted by Lieutenant General Sir
Hudson Lowe to inform you, that by an instruc-
tion received from Eail liathurst, dated the IGtIi
of May, 1818, he has been directed to withdraw
you from your attendance upon General liona-
" A letter of a similar import vaa sent to Count Montholon liy Pir
IIl.iIsiui Lowe, containing instructions from Lord Buthurst, that -Mr.
Baxter tlioulJ lie directed to attend in my place.
A VOICE FROM ST. HELENA. 415
parte^ and to interdict you all further interviews
with the inhabitants at Long wood.
Rear-admiral Plampin has received instructions
from the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
as to your destination when you quit tliis island.
You are in consequence to leave Longwood
immediately after receiving this letter, without
holding any further comnmnication whatsoever
with the persons residing there.
I have the honour, &c.
Edward wynyard,
Lieut-Col. Military Secretaiy.
3arry (/Meara, Esq. Longwood.
Humanity, the duties of my profession, and the
actual state of Napoleon's health, alike forbade a
compliance with this unfeeling command, espe-
cially as my situation was of a civil nature, similar
to other naval oflScers in the employ of the excise
or customs. My resolution was adopted in a
moment. I determined to disobey it, whatever
might be the consequences ; Napoleon's health
required that I should prescribe for him a regimen,
and prepare the medicines which it would be ne-
cessary for him to take in the absence of a sur-
geon, an absence likely to be of long duration, as
I was perfectly sure he would accept of none re-
commended by Sir Hudson Lone I accordingly
416 A VOICE PROM ST. [lELBNA.
went instantly to Napoleon's apartment. Hav-
ing obtained admission, I communicated to him
the order which I had received. " Le crime se
consommera plus vite^ said Napoleon, " I Jiave
lived too long for them, f'otre m'mUtere est hlen
hardi^ added he; "when the Pope was in Fiance,
sooner would I have cut off my right arm than
have signed an order for tlic removal of his sur-
geon."
After some more conversation had taken place,
and I had ^ven him soch medical instructions as
I cocid upon the sudden. Napoleon said, " When
you arrive in Europe, yon will either go yourself
or send to my brother Joseph. You will inform
him, that I desire he shall give to yon the parcel
containing the private and confidential* letters of
• On my return to Europe, I usi'd every exerliim to obtnin
the hiipwlimt letters in questiifn. Liifi^rtuiiiiti-ly, liimever, for
po>tcrily, my efforts liave iiiit been atteriilea witli Muve^s. Be-
r..ri> tbe Count <lc Survcillers 1i;l.1 left lloehefort for Aiueric.i, .ip
)>re1ii'iisii,-i lliitt lie nilfbt be seiiied liy the iillieil poxer!', be 'miliieA
it prudent tu deposit bis precious cliiirfie in tlie hands i)f a per-
son upon mIio^ iutej^ity lie tbuugbt he cuuld rtdy ; but >ihu it
b;is nppeari'd since, barely betniyed tlie Count, as some months
-..^0 a person broiifzht the original letliTS to L.imbin fur sale, for
wliicli be demanded 30,.0n0/. This was immediatiOy roninuini-
rated to some of bis miijesty's miuistcrt:, nnd to the furelj^n am-
bassadors, and I liiive been eredibly informed, tliat tbe lliis^ian
nmbass.iitur paid I0,000f. to ri'decm those belonging tu his mas-
ter. Amongst other curious piissnges, vbith have been repealled
A VOICB FROM ST. HELENA. 417
the Emperors Alexander and Francis, the King of
Prussia, and the other sovereigns of Europe with
me, which I delivered to his care at Rochefort.
You will publish them, to couvrir de honte those
sovereigns, and manifest to the world the abject
homage which those vassals paid to nie, when ask-
ing favours or supplicating for their thrones. When
I was strong and in power, ils briguerent ma pro^
tection et Vhonneur de mon alliance^ and licked the
dust from under my feet. Now, in my old age,
they basely oppress, and take my wife and child
from me. I require of you to do this, and if you
see any calumnies published of me during the
time that you have been with me, and that you
can say, * I have seen with my own eyes that this
is not true ;* contradict them.**
He soon after dictated to Count Bertrand the let-
ter, an extract of which is given in another part of
this work, which be signed, adding a postcript in
his own hand-writing, and assuring me, that those
few words would say more to the empress for me,
than if he had written pages in quarto; he then pre-
sented me with a superb snuff-box, and a statue of
to me by those who have been favoured with their perusal, the fol-
lowing occurs in reference to Hanover. His majesty of Prussia
itated that '' he always entertained a paternal regard for that eoun^
try ;" and it appeared that the sovereigns in general, made earnest
supplieatioHs for territory »
VOL. II. 3 u
418 A VOICE FROM ST. HBLBNA,
himself ; desired me^ on my arrival in Europe, to
make inquiries about bis family^ and communicate
to tbe members of it, that he did not wish that any
of them should come to St. Helena^ to witness tbe
miseries and humiliations under which belaboured
** You will express tbe sentiments which I preserve
for them,** added he. " You will bear my affections
to my good Louise, to my excellent mother, and
to Pauline. If you see my son, embrace him for
me ; may he never forget that he was bom a
French prince ! Testify to Lady Holland the
sense I entertain of her kindness, and the esteem
which I bear to her. Finally, endeavour to send
me authentic intelligence of the manner in which
my son is educated.** The emperor then shook
me by the hand, and embraced me, saying, ^^Adieu^
OMeara^ nous ne nous reverrons jamais encore.
Soyez heureuxr
For ike tsnihenticity of the foregoing convtrsntiom and
details, I pledge myself. I think it right also to mention^
that I am in possession of other conversations^ and documents
ef great importance^ delivered by Napoleon himself^ which
it might be imprudent to make knoivn at presents Their
--"'^^ication will he a matter Jor future consideration*
APPENDIX.
JL Hfi island of St. Helena is situated in latitude
15* 55' S., and longitude 5*^ 46' W., in the south-
east trade wind. It is about ten miles and a half
in length, six and three-quarters in breadth^ and
twenty-eight in circumference. The highest part
of it is Dtana^s Peak. It is distant from the
Dearest land (Ascension), about six hundred miles,
and twelve hundred from the nearest continent,
the Cape of Good Hope. Its appearance is the
most desolate and unpromising that can be ima-
gined. Its exterior presents an immense mass of
brown rock, formed of different sorts of lava,
rising from the ocean in irregular, rugged^ and
perpendicular precipices, of a burnt and scorified
appearance, totally void of vegetation, from three
to fifteen hundred feet high, diversified with hide-
ous, deep, and narrow ravines, descending to the
«ca, and in some places forming landing-places.
The island is composed of lava, cooled In different
423 APPBMDtX.
States of fasioD, which, with the tbtul abseocc of
any primitiTe sobstaDce, its coaical hills, the puz-
xolamOj anfl f>tber volcanic productions found ia il,
dearly sfaev that it has uoderg one tbe action of
fir^ James Town, the only one in the island, is
ritnated in the bottun of a deep wedge-Uke rarine,
flanked on each side by barren and tremendous
overhan^g precipices, on whose sides and sum-
mits, huge loose rocks contiitually menace tbe ia-
habitants with destruction. The one on the left
from tbe sea is called Rupert's Hill, and that oa the
right, ladder Hill. There U a steep and narrow
road, called the side path, cut along the former,
and a good zig-zag road leads along the latter to
the country-seat of the governor. The first view
of the town is pleasing, csjiccially to those who
have been long at sta, and resembles that of a
scene at the theatre. Opposite to the town is
James's Bay, tlie principal anchorage, whete the
largest ships He perfectly secure, as the wind
never varies morf; than two or three points, and is
always off the land, and favourable for sailin^^
The town consists of a small street along the
beach, called the Maritio, and the main street,
commencing from this, and extending in a riglil
line to a distance of ubout three hundred yards,
where it branches off into two lesser ones. There
arc about one hundred and sixty-houses, chiefly
APPENDIX. 423
built of stone, cemented with mud, lime being
scarce on the island. The principal houses, how-
ever, are plastered with this article, generally
white-washed, and roofed with shingles. The
others are covered with boards and earth. There
is a church, a botanical garden, an hospital, a
tavern, and barracks. On the left from the beach
is situated the Castle, the town residence of the
governor. There are some breweries, in which
beer is brewed of a quality equal to our best table-
beer.
The houses are in general neat on the exterior,
though deficient in many of the conveniences and
comforts of England. They chiefly consist of
shops, and boarding or lodging houses. East-
India and English goods are to be had, but the
latter at an enormous price. Tea is the only com-
modity to be purchased cheap. We found on our
arrival that provisions were very scarce; indeed
the necessaries of life were to be procured with
great difficulty, and at an exorbitant rate. Such
was the scarcity of cattle, that killing a bullock
was an affair of state, and a regulation existed
prohibiting the inhabitants from slaughtering even
their own cattle, without first having obtained of-
ficial permission from the governor and council.*
. * The difficulty of obtaining permission to slaughter cattle in*
doced some of the iohabitaots to have recourse to the expedient
434 APPENDIX.
Ilie iheep are very small, weighing from twenty
to thirty ppunda each. Mutton, when to be bad,
sells from about one shilling and sizpeoce per
pound, to two shilliags. Fowls are rery dear, from
six to ten sbilUags each. Docks, ten shillings;
geese, fifteen ; and a turkey, from one pound five,
to two pounds sterling. Veal very difficult to be
had, and about two shillings per pound ; Foric,
one shilling and three pence. Cabbages, from ten
pence to half a crown each. Carrots, a shilUng
per dozen. Potatoes, six to eight shillings per
bushel. Eggs per dozen, five to six shillings.
Peas sometimes to be had, but exorbitantly dear.
The principal supply of fish is mackerel, wfaidi
is caught in abundance. There are albicore, bo-
ntta, bull's fjcs, cavally, and many otlier kinds,
and at times, but very rarely, turtle. Tbore is
also a sort of cray-fisli called long legs, and some
species of crabs.
There are a few wild peacocks, some partridges
and pheasants, which constitute the only game on
the isIaTul. These last are royal game, and are
solely reserved for the governor, there being a
heavy penalty liable to be levied upon any person
kilting one, who does not immediately send it to
of precipitating a hullock dnwn the steep sides of tlie mvinoa, in
onlcr to break some of Iiia bonesj and lluis have a pretext to kill
APPENDIX. 425
the governor. No hares are to be found, and but
few rabbits. Lodging is excessively dear ; five
shillings a night being the price for residents, and
ten for passengers. Board and lodging is thirty
shillings a day for a grown person, fifteen for a
child, and ten for a servant ; for which there is a
middling table, and a modicum of wine. Eng-
lish porter, and all wines, except Cape are dear.
The sale of every description of spirits is prohi-
bited. The goats, which were once so numerous,
and so destructive to the young trees, are nearly
extirpated. The houses are overrun with rats
and mice, which abound in numbers scarcely cre-
dible to those who have not been at St. Helena ;
and the ravages they commit are incalculable.
There are also swarms of musquitoes of two
kinds, one called the day, and the other the night
musquito whose bites are tormenting ; numbers
of cock-roaches, some scorpions and centipedes,
and a sort of fly, extremely annoying to the cattle
and horses. Caterpillars and grubs are astonish-
ingly numerous, and the ravages they commit
upon the young green plants are almost incredible,
whole plantations of vegetables are said to have
been sometimes destroyed by the former in a
night. Fuel is extremely scarce and dear ; coals
are obliged to be sent from England. The re-
sources of the island are very few, and I may
VOL. II. 3 1
496 AFPINDIX.
with truth venture to assert, that on board of the
Northumberland alone, there was a greater nnoi-
ber ctf artificers and mechaDics than it contains.
Labour is excessively dear, the fwrnmon wages of
a working man being a dollar a day, and those of
a mechanic from seven to ten shillings.
James Town is defended by a line of woriu
along the beach, to the left of which (from the
sea) is the landing place ; and by strong sea-woriu
on Ladder Hill, Rupert's Hill, by Munden's and
Banks's batteries. Across the sea-line there is a
draw-bridge, and a gate leading into the maun
street, which is closed at night. The approach to
the town is round a conical hill called Sugar
Loaf Point, where ships are obliged to send a
boat to declare their names, countiy, &c. before
thcv are permitted to anchor. Tliere are besides
tliis landing place, five or six others, not however
easily practicable, excepting to a sailor.
A stream of water rnns through and supplies
the town and shipping in the bay, which, with
water-cresses, a few vegetables, and beer, are the
])rincipal refreshments to be had by those pas-
sengers, or others, whose pockets are not well
suppbcd.
The population of the island, (exclusive of (he
military,) is reckoned at about two thousand nine
hundred souls, of whom about seven hundred
APPENDIX* 4S7
and eighty are whites, thirteen hundred blacks,
and the rest Lascars, Chinese, &c. The whites
are either of British descent, or natives of Great
Britain. The islanders are, however, very jealous
of these last, and look upon them as intruders,
who in return have nicknamed the natives, Vam
Stocks. The English language is spoken with a
barbarous pronunciation. The religion of the
established church prevails. Their customs are a
mixture of English and tropical. Their chief food
consists of salt meat, rice, and fish, the first of
which they obtain in allotted quantities from the
East India Company's stores, at a reduced price ;
fresh meat is a luxury rarely indulged in, ex-
cept by the upper classes, and is with difficulty
to be had even by them. Their vegetables are
generally sold or bartered to the ships and troops.
A very few years ago, there was not a plough
upon the island. Latterly, however, owing to the
exertions of the late governor. Major General
Beatson, there are several. The majority of the
inhabitants are shopkeepers, and live in the town,
resorting to the country for amusement or health.
Grenerally speaking, their minds are but little im«
proved by education, and the few who have been
brought up in Europe, on their return soon ac-
quire a sovereign contempt for their relatives and
neighbours.
4S^ A^Mwni^
tlie ' eneraldtas )^ri^ ^^f t prdtteiMs, ^d' other
piftalify Ihm beidg tnahif!^^ %^tti€ inha^ti&iitt.
Wkik the asception of Mr. 'Balc$»Bibe^ 'feofily, in
getteral the MMmg^r^eadd'^y hdpe W meet at-?
tentfon fitna^ this proprietor of die <bdai^diBg4ioil86
Whi^^Ci bii lites, Botne bf wb&m are the^ priilMpal
piertonir on tlM kialid^ and a few years ag^a incliiifed
atnongst their ^nniiber the seeond memberof eMii-'
c% ^ "Erenfaig partiet ttre^ however, occaaionieffllf
gketiy ktrid the young ladies ift the islimd, some of
wli6n(l are Yery pl^ttty, rad very imedocated, d«
not reqnire a long edortship, or miich persnasion^'
to4ndnce tiiem to .qnit the roek- where they hCul
their hirth; '
The interior of the island is composed of alter-
nate ridges of mountains and ravines, the former
of which vary in height from six hundred to two
thousand six hundred feet. Diana's Peak, the
highest in the island, is two thousand six hundred
and ninety-seven feet above the level of the sea.
The face of the country presents a most striking
contrast, being composed of a great variety of
mountains and valleys, of barrenness and verdure.
Some parts consisting of immense stupendous
and sterile rocks, separated by deep and fright-
ful dingy coloured chasms, several hundred feet
perpendicular, with huge detached masses of
APPENDIX. 429
naked rock sticking up here and there, with an
4
Oecasional patch of green ; others^ of verdant pas*
tarages and gardens^ ornamented with trees, and
houses erected in the valley or on the declivities^
irfaich^ with a few cattle, some sheep, and occa-
piooaliy a horse grazing along the steep sides of
th& hills, give an agreeable relief to the eye, fa-
tigued with the view of the tremendous precipices,
luid gaping red ravines in the neighbourhood.
This contrast induces the beholder to Consider
the cultivated portion picturesque and romantic.
The view from Sandy Bay ridge, and from the
iodimit of Diana*s Peak, is sublime. The greatest
pilrt of the island, however, is barren, and inex*
pressibly desolate and repulsive in its appearance,
and even a large portion of that which is suscep*
tible of culture is now overrun with the black-
berry,* which was introduced a few years ago
ftt a curiosity. The roads are in general bridle-
paths, twining round the brows of the hills, or
creeping up the steep sides, and over the sharp
ridges of the mountains, and sinking into the pro-
fundities of the ravines. There were only two
carriages on the island, which belonged to the go-
yemor, aind were dragged along by bullocks.
Amongst the prettiest and most desirable spots
on the island may be mentioned, first. Plan-
4
* Rubitf Plnnatust
tation Honse, Best, Colonel Snuth s, Rosemary
Hally Mr. Doveton*8 at Sandy Bay, the Briars, and
Miss Mason*8. All of these have the advantage
of good gardens, shady walks, verdure, and brooks
of water^ and comparatively, are pleasant abodes.
Plantation Honse and grounds, in particular,
would, in any part of Europe be esteemed a
handsome and romantic residence.
That the reader may not be led to imagine that I
am inclined to enhance its beauties, I shall extract
the description given of it in the last work pub*
lished npon St Helena. ^ Proceeding abont three
quarters of a mile is the entrance to Plantation
House, the official country establishment for the
governor; it is a mansion of considerable de*
gance, pleasantly situated with extensive gardens
and cultivated lands, laid out in good style, and
kept in excellent order, adorned with a variety of
fine trees and shrubs, collected from Europe,
Asia, Africa, and America, brought from the most
remote parts of the world, and from climates the
most opposite, yet all thriving in great luxuriance
— all flourishing alike."
It is sheltered by the immense ridges of moun-
tains* forming Diana's Peak, and Halley's Mount,
• In the journeys which I was obliged to take twice a week
to Plantation House^ I frequently left Longwood amidst fog and
drizzling rain^ and found fine weather at Plantation estate ; and in«
APPENDIX. 431
intersecting the island, and trending to the south,
from the south-east wind, which, in exposed situa*
tions, is so destructive to vegetation.
When it was understood that Longwood had
been fixed upon for the abode of Napoleon, it at
first excited some surprise in the minds of the
islanders, as the situation was so bleak and ex-
posed, that it had never been inhabited by any fa**
mily for more than a few months in the year ; but
this surprise soon subsided, as it was supposed
that a suitable winter residence would be pro-
Tided for him when the new governor arrived.
Longwood is a large plain, situated on the sum*
mit of a mountain on the windward side of the
island, nearly two thousand feet above the level of
the sea, and containing a number of gum-wood
trees, (conyza gummifferaj which being nearly all
of the same size and inclination, in consequence of
the trade-wind continually blowing from the south*
east, present a monotonous and melancholy ap*
deed the change generally began after having paRsed the moun*
tains above Hut's Gate. This may be accounted for by the clouds
having been attracted by the high mountains^ called the backbono
cf the island. Fine weather in the town^ and very bad in the
aMmntains at one and the same time, was an every-day occur-
rence. It is singular that thunder and lightning are unknown in
St. Helena. This arises probably from the electric fluid being at-
tracted by Diana's Peak and the other conical hills^ and conducted
into the sea.
4as
pearance. The leaves of the gom-wood are
sffiall, narrow^ and chielGiy confined to the ends of
the branchlets^ consequently do not afford that
thi<ik foliage necessary to intercept the rays of the
snn* There is no water, except what is brought
froni the distance of nearly three miles. No con-
tinuous shade. Exposed to a south-east wind
constantly charged with humidity, its elevated si-
tuation causes it to be enveloped in fog, or drench-
ed with rain for the greatest p^rt of the year.
The sdl is a tenacious ai^llaceous clay, whidb
in wet weather collects and adheres to the sImmbb
4>f the pedestrian forming so. ponderous a n^ass
as tnaterially to impede his progress. For a
month or six weeks during the year there is fine
weather, for two or three a powerful vertical sun
prevails, and for seven or eight, the weather is wet
and most disagreeable. Though Longwood is ge-
nerally covered with fog and wet, the sky occa-
sionally clears up, and the rays of the sun beam
forth in transitory splendour. Soon after, the
hemisphere becomes again obscured, thick fogs
cover the plain, and rain, impetuously forced along
by the eternal south-east trade wind, drenches
whoever has been induced to hazard a walk by
the delusive appearance of sun-shine. These
changes of temperature often occur several times
in the course of the day, and are one cause of the
APPENDIX^ 4Xi
cphealthiness of St. Helena. In consequence of
the tenacious nature of the clay, the rain pene-
trates very little into the surface, and runs off to
the ravines in the neighbourhood. The violence
of the wind is destructive to vegetation, and,
together with the ravages of the grub, and the
want of water for two or three months, renders
abortive almost every attempt towards cultivating
the garden. The plant which thrives best at
Longwood is the spurge, a most offensive weed.
That some readers may not be led to suppose
that I have exaggerated any of the inconveniences
of Longwood, I shall take the liberty of making
two extracts from the history of St. Helena,
written by Mr. Brooke, an inhabitant of the island
for about forty years ; senior member of council,
and now acting governor, possessing a large pro-
perty in the island, and much more inclined to
enhance its merits, than to point out its defects,
" But it is only in the most sheltered spots of the
island that the oak attains perfection; in exposed
situations, the trade wind, blowing continually in
the same direction, produces very baneful effects.
upon this, as upon most other trees not indige-^
nous to the soil,'* — page 288. And again, page
255. " Governor Dunbar was unwearied in his.
exertions to watch over the resources and fertility
of the island. Experiments in the cultivation of
VOL. II. 3 K
^&^ APPENDIX.
oatSy barley, and wheat, at Lmgwood^ gave rise to
soch hopes of saccess^ that a ham was erected
there; but on a failure of subsequent crops, it
was converted into a residence for the lieutenant
governor. This disappointment is supposed to
have arisen either from drought, or some pecu-
liarity of the climate or soil, and not as has some-
times been asserted from the depredations of rats.*
« A stronger proof that Longwood is the worst
and the most unpleasant part of the island,* can-
not be afforded, than by the fact of its not having
been whabited before Napoleon came to the island,
except by the lieutenant governor as a coontry
residence for three or four months annually, and
by the occasional presence of the company*s fiu^*
iners in a small hovel. None of the inhabitants
of the island ever made it a permanent abode^ well
knowing" its inconveniences. This incontrovert-
ible ybfcf "speaks volumes.*'-}'
• In the sketch which I have given of the customs of St. He-
lena, I have omitted to mention one which perhaps may not be
considered favourable to morality. Should pregnancy take place
in the instance of any unmarried female of a respectable family,
the seducer, if in either the civil or military employ of the Hon. the
East India Company (who constitute about four-fifths of the inha-
tants of respectability), is compelled to marry her under pain of
losing his situation. I am not able to state whether this be a cu4'
torn or a bye-law of the company.
t I have been informed by Colonel Skelton, since the publica-
APPENDIX. 435
Upon the climate of St. Helena, I hope the fol-
lowing remarks, founded upon actual observation
and experience will not be deemed superfluous
on the present occasion ; and to render them
more intelligible to the unprofessional reader, I beg
leave to offer a few preliminary observations.
To sudden diurnal vicissitudes of temperature,
especially when accompanied with rain or humi-
dity, may be ascribed the greatest part of the
diseases which affect the human constitution.
Rapid transitions from heat to cold render the
extreme vessels on the surface of the body torpid,
impelling at the same time a quantity of blood
upon some of the internal organs. Sudden at-
mospherical changes injure by the consent of parts
between the exterior, and the interior, producing,
in some climates, such as that of England, affec-
tions of the lungs ; in tropical ones, where the bi-
tion of the Fourth Edition^ that himself and fBinily had resided at
Longwood^ with the exception of an interval in towa. Colonel
Skelton was only a sojourner on the island ; and I still repeat that
none of the inhabitants ever made it a permanent ahode. The
Colonel does not say that ho made it his country residence
from choice: in £iict^ like Napoleon he had no option ; and
I am quite oertat& that he will himself admits that he never
would have selected it for pleasure. However, he has omitted
altogether to say how long he resided there ; and I will venture to
wKy, that even for a sojourner. Colonel Skelton's is a iohtary in«
439 ARPBNDIX.
Ifatry system is so liable to derangement, aSections
of the liver. The great sympathy eating be*
tween the skin, liTer, and intestines, has nerer been
mora strongly exemplified than by the number
of Tjolent and fatal affecjtions of the two latter
organs^ which have occurred, and are daily occur*
ringi in St. Helena, where the atmospherical vi-
ciasitades are «o frequent and so rafnd, and where
Hich hu^nidity prevails.
The interior of St. Helena, as has been already
mentioned, is chiefly formed of successions of high,
iteep,. and unequal ridges of hills, the most elevated
of wbidi are two thousand six hundred feet above
the level of the ocean, divided by deep, narrow
and long ravines, some of which at the bottom'are
not more than a ftiw feet above the level of the sea.
M'hoever therefore would ride a few miles, must
calculate on passing through different climates
every half hour; one moment becalmed in the bot-
tom of the nivines, he experiences the heat of tlic
tropics, in a latitude of 15° 55' south; a inomeiit
afterwards, passing the aperture of some cliasiu,
perspiring from every pore, the tenipordry lull is
succeeded by a sudden and bleak blast from the
mountains, the effects of which, combined willi
the humidity accompanjing it, are to produce a
rapid evaporation and abstraction of animal heat
from the surface of the body, driving thereby the
APPENDIX; 437
blood to the interior. Emerging from the valley,
covered with perspiration, a similar cutting blast,
producing the same eflfects, strikes you on reach-
ing the summit of the mountains*
Reckoning one degree of reduced temperature
for every two hundred feet of elevation, there will
be found a difference of ten degrees of temperature
between Longwood, which is about two thousand
feet above the level of the sea, and the town ; to
which may be added two or three degrees more,
arising from the sharp south-east wind, loaded with
humidity, generally prevdling in the high regions,
producing a difference of evaporation between the
mountains and the valleys, which, combined with
theT increase of elevation, reduces the temperature
of Longwood twelve or thirteen degrees. Add to
the foregoing, the frequent vicissitudes of tem-
perature ; at one moment assailed by a shower of
rain and enveloped in fog, to the force of which
the wind communicates such an impetus, as to
cause it to penetrate the best great coat in a few
minutes : shortly afterwards, the sky brightening,
the weather clearing np, and the scorching rays
of a tropical sun beaming forth. This continues
for a short tinic, and is suddenly followed by a
repetition of fog, rain, and mist.* This alternate
* ** Hence it appears^ that St. Helena, during these last three
feaju^ had its full shsra of raiii, and in much greater quantity thaa
m
dnncbing and Bcorcbing ie, of ksd^ suffide^ (as
every nwdieal man will allow) to prodnce the
matt violeikt inflammatwy affections of the viscerat
particularly ia those of the abdomeo.
' it woqM thus appear that St, Helena, in addition
IQ tb^ general caase of insalubrity to Eoropeans,
which are useparaUe from a tropical climate has
tlso local and pecnliar causes for bdng partita*
larly unhealthy, as the great mortality, to be here*
after described, amply proves. The most trifling
eold or irregularity is frequently succeeded by a
violent attack <^ dysenteiy, inflammation of the
bowels or fever proving fatal in a few days, if the
most active and ^cadoos practice is not instantly
adopted. A snrfeit in a cluld, wfaicb in Eorope
Mould require nothing more than a little warm
water to produce evacuatiMi, there becomes a
foriiiidal)le disease, requiring the most powerful
remedies; and if neglected only for a (ew hours,
terminates fatally. To Europeans tlie climate is
peculiar unfriendly ; and indeed, it is unfavour-
able to longevity in all subjects, even to the na-
tives; as, on examination of the parish registers
it will be seen, that very few persons pass tlieir
usually fnlU in Loadon, which by an average of eleveo years, 19 no
mure than '2l,'ii inches, whereas the avera^ of four year« ut Si.
Helena vns 33,38 inches." — Major Gtntrel Btatian't i'lfrMiarMr^
C'liajiUr, relative lo the ItUtut of St. HeUaa, page uuvi.
APPENDIX. 499
forty-fifth year.* The most prevalent complaints
are, dysenteries, inflammations of the bowels, liver
a£fections, and fevers, all of them generally of a
violent form. Dysenteries especially, and liver
affections, (which are indeed frequently combined,)
appear with the most concentrated and fatal symp-
toms, baffling the prompt exhibition of the most
active and powerful remedies, and in spite of the
acknowledged skill and experience of several able
practitioners, these terminate fatally, in a proper*
tion rarely witnessed in any British colony. Dur-
ing the first twelve or thirteen months after its arri-
val at St. Helena, the second battalion of the 66th
regiment lost, by these diseases, fifty-six men,
out of a strength of six hundred and thirty, being
one in eleven ; and still more recently, the Con-
queror, which ship arrived in July, 1817, has lost,
in eighteen months almost entirely by the same
eoroplaints, one hundred and ten men, out of
a complement of six hundred, besides one hun-
dred AND SEVEN INVALIDED, uud scut to Eng-
land, being more than a third of her complement.
* '' The only endemic disorders^ to which the natives are tubject>
are of the catarrhal kind ; these^ as they belong to the inflammatory
dasB, may in some measure account, nowithstanding thdr general ro«
hast health, for the few instances among the islanders of longevity,
looording to the information of a professional friend, who has as-
listed this account with his opinion and judgment."— FiWe Brookii$
Butmy of Si. Helena, pajfe S4i
4M Anmnmx:
The nmnber of deaths in the tiro battalioiis of
the 66th regiment^ I caanot positively state^ but
believe it to have exceeded one hundred and
twenty men. A reference to the official returns
win, however, ^sufficiently elucidate this point. In
the West Indies, the proportil)n of deaths to the
strength Wta, • in the year 1814, as one to tlventy-
five; and of deaths to diseases^ as one to thirty-
six, and two thii*ds. Yet how trifling does the
mortality there appear, when compared* with that
of S^ Helenas At the letter place it was so great, ,
that the governor and admiral^ apprehensive of the
effiicts which might be produced by a longer re-
sidence in the island, and, doubtless, desirous of
alleviating their miseries as far as they could, sent
upwards of seventy of the sick in one month to
England and the Cape. Above hiAC of those sent
to the hist named plaee, (who were the worst
cases,) have been long ere now hiid in their quiet
crraves."
The Conqueror was also ordered to cruise to
Avindward of the island for six weeks, without,
however, much benefit having accrued from the
measure. It is worthy of observation, that the Ra-
coon's ship's company had sufTcred severely from
dysentery and hepatitis, while stationed at St. He-
lena; but when sent to the Cape, they recovered,
and became very healthy; which state of health
continued as long as the vessel remained there;
APFBNDfK^ 441
but, on ber return to St Helena^ dysentety and
hepatitis again appeared, and a heavy sick list
followed.*
The loss oi life among the ore«« of the follow^
ing small ships, whilst they were on the St^
Helena station, is alsa very great, viz. twenty-four
in the Mosquito, complement one hundred men;
sixteen in the Racoon, one hundred men; eleven
in the Leveret, seventy-five meaj fifteen in the
Griffon, eighty-five men; besides numbers inva^
lided, and sent to England on account of the
same complaints.. It is well known to naval
officers, that, unless in very sichfy stathns, small
vessels are generally very healthy, frequently not
losing a man in a yean I was myself sorgeour
* Another strong instance of the i]Maliibrit3r of the dittute U
to be found in the instance of the female eonviot-ship Friendships
vhich vessel arrived at St. Helena frpm England in the month of
November^ 1817. She had not remained more than eight or ten
days to water^ before dysentery made its appearance ; and in the
course of a few weeks^ above one hundred cases occurred. Previous
to her arrival at St. Helena^ no one instance of the complaint had
occurred.
From the 20th Nov. 1815^ to the 90th of the same months 1816,
there were admitted into the regimental-hospital four hundred and
thirty-eight patients^ one hundred and seventy-nine of whom were
afficted with bowel complaints. The regiment was between five and
lix hundred strong.
VOL. II. 3 L
4tt
of a Aoeip of war in the West IndieSi in which
ship not a angle death occnrred daring twelve
months^ though exposed for a considerable portion
of that timet to the influence of the nonons climate
ofSniinam*
The nndesenred r^ntadon for salubrity which
St Helena has hitherto enjoyed, has probably
aris^i from its being so little known, except to
seamen and others, who, arriving after long
voyages, were enchanted, like Dampier*s sailors,
to find themselves on shore any where ; and who,
doriog the few days they remained, found them-
selves relieved from scorbutic complaints by the
use of the water-cresses with which it abounds,
and from its population bdng small, and chiefly
composed of natives, who, of course, do not suffer
so much as strangers from the effects of the cli-
mate in which they were born. Until the arrival of
the state prisoner, very few Europeans resided for
a continuance upon the island ; and I can assert,
from personal observation, that the greatest num-
ber of those now there, even of the oflScers, have
suffered attacks more or less severe, either of dv-
sentery or hepatitis, in which number, I regret to
say, I was myself included; and that the opinion
of the medical officers, who had the best opportu-
nity of forming a correct opinion, from actual ex-
perience on the island, is, that the dnnate is ex-
APPENDIX. 44S
trtme^f unhealthy; and especially^ that hepatitis
and dysentery prevail to an extent, and with a
severity seldom to be paralleled. In order to
convince the public, that I am neither singular
in my opinions, nor inclined to exaggerate, I beg
leave to refer the reader to a medical inaugural
Dissertation* upon Dysentery and Hepatitis in St.
Helena, composed by the candidate for the degree
* ** Est nullus morbus perniciosior dysenteria exercitibus in
omnibus partibus orbis terrarum degentibus ; sed in tropicis regioni-
bof grasBfttur vi maximii inter milites et alios ex Europa : et videtur
intimus nexus inter hanc et hepatitidem existere, nam siepe oonjun«
gnntuTj et raro accidit unum sine altero." Dusertaiio Mediea,
f. 15.
In an official letter from Dr. Baildon, dated Nov. 2^, 1808^ ha
expresses himself as follows : '* It will hardljr be credited, that
soldiers and others are frequently brought to the hospital as fitf
advanced in real scurvy as if they had just landed after a long
voyage^ and many who are brought for other complaints are eoo-
sderably tainted with this disease." *' On my arrival, I was mudi
lorprised with the great number of patients attacked with livet
eomplaints."
Both of those diseases Dr. Baildon attributes to the " excea*
sive use of spirituous liquors." Now, as in 1810, the govern-
ment of St. Helena adopted measures to prevent any spirits from
being landed, \Thich had completely the desired effect, and as all
houses for retailing spirits were abolished en the 15th of May,
1809, and wholesome beer substituted in lieu ; it is clear that tho
prevalence of liver complaints in St. Helena since that period, must
be aaeribed to other causes than to the " excessive use of spirituooi
0t doOtM- IB- nedkniie ^ Trinity Coll^n^ IStAttni
Tbe essay in qoestioft was written ^yDr; lidg^
fonnerly surgeon to the second twtt^on of tbe
06Ui rej^ment, stationed at St Helena. ^
No. I.
Letter Jrom the Author to Admiral Lord Keith,
Bit MajtH/i »kip BenerapiiM,
Torbajf, TM Auput, ms.
Mt Lord, — Application having been made to
me yesterday by Count Bertrand, to accompany
General Napoleon Bonaparte to St. Helena, in
quality of surgeon (as the surgeon, who embarked
with him in France, is unwilling to proceed fur-
ther) ; I beg to inform your loriJsliip, that I am
willing to accept that situation (provided it meets
with your lordship's approbation), and also on the
following conditions, viz. that it should be per-
mitted me to resign the above situation, should I
find it not consonant to my wishes, on giving due
notice of my intention thereof. That such time as
I shall serve in that situation, shall be allowed to
count as so much time served on full pay in his
majesty's navy, or that I shall be indemnified in
APPKNDIX« 445
8ome Way for such loss of time as surgeon on full
pay, as it may occasion to me. That I am not to
be considered in any wise depending upon^ or to
be subservient to^ or paid by the aforesaid Napo-
leon Bonaparte : but as a British officer employed
by the British government ; and lastly, that I may
be informed, as soon as circumstances wiU admit,
of what salary I am to have, and in what manner
and from whom I am to receive it.
I have the honour to remain.
My Lord,
With the greatest respect.
Your Lordship's most
Obedient humble Servant
Barry £. O'Meara,
Surgeon^ H. M. S. Belleroplioik
To (he Right Honourable Viscount Keith,
Admiral of the Red, G. C. B.
Commander-in- Chief.
No. II.
Dawning Street, !• Janvier, 1810.
Je dois ^ present vous faire connaltre, que la
A^ Ammmn.
plaisir de S. A. R. le Prince Regent, est, qtfi votre
arriv6e k Ste. H^ldne^ Tons comroaniqaeriez i
toutes les personnes de la suite de Napoldon Bo*
naparte^ y compris ks servitenni dom^stiques^
qa*il8 sont libres de quitter lisle immediatem^it
ponr r^to rner en Earope ; ajoatant^ qull ne sera
peitnis k aucnn de tester k Ste. Hd^ne^ except^
cenx qui d^lareront par un dent que sera ddpos^
dans yos mains, que c*est leur ddsir de rester dans,
risle et de participer aux restrictions qull est n^-
cessaire dimposer sur Napol^n Bonaparte per-
sonneUement
(Sign4) Bathurst«
Ceux qui parmi eiix sc d^^termineront h, retour-
ner en Europe, devront Hre envoy^ par le premier
oceasion favorable an Cap de Bonne Esp^rance,
le gouverneur de cette colonie sera charg6 de
pourvoir aux personnes des moyens de transport
en Europe.
(Sign^J Bathurst.
APPENDIX. 447
No. III.
Letter from the Governor, Sir Hudson Lowe, to
Count Montholon.
Plantation Bouse, Attgnst, 17 th, 1816^
SiR^ — In pursuance of the conversations I have
already had with you on the subject of the ex*
penses of the establishment at Longwood, I do
myself the honour to acquaint you^ that having
used all efforts to effect a reduction in them with«
out diminishing in any very sensible manner from
the convenience or comforts of General Bonapart^
or any of the families or individuals that form his
snite^ (in which operation I am happy to acknow^
ledge the spirit of concert with which you have
assisted,) I am now enabled to transmit to you^ for
General Bonaparte's information, two statements,
furnishing sufficiently precise data whereon to
found a calculation of the probable annual ex-
pense, should matters continue on the same foot-
ing as at present established.
The statement No. I. has been furnished me by
Mr. Ibbetson, head of the commissariat depart-
ment in this island ; the latter has been framed by
my military secretary.
The instructions I have received from the
uh goveromentj direct me to llniLt the expenditure
of General Bonnparte's establishment to 8,000/1 per
annum, they give me llbertj/ at the same time to
adutit of m^ further expense being ijicurred, which
be may reqaire as to table and so forthj beyond
what this sum would cover, provided he furnishes
th^fknds whereby the twplus charges may he de-
^yl oAi now therefore under the necessity of r»-
<}(K4tiiig you would make known to him the im-
P«au^ity I am under of bringing the expenses of
hnibonsefaold on its present establishment in point
tfrwimberB, within the limits prescribed, nnleas
^ttdte snch a redaction under several heads as
rtighe baturally abridge from the convemences
wh'wh the persons around him now enjoy ; and
having been already very frankly informed by him
as icell as Uy yourself, that he has at his disposal
in various parts of Europe, means whereby the
extra or even the whole expense may be de-
frayed* I beg leave to request being informed,
previous to attempting any further considerable
" Eiplann'orij Kale. — This part of Sir Hudson Lowe's letter
Has answered hy tlie postorijit of the letter of the SSrd August,
nnd lie had been tiilJ, that if there were h free correspondence, and
il the wants here experienced were known in Europej there was no
duubt that millions wuuld be offered from the different countries of
Europe.
APPENDIX. 449
reduction, and which might prove inconvenient to
him or the persons of his suite^ if he is content
such an attempt should be made, or if he is will-
ing to place at my command sufficient funds to
meet the extra charges which must otherwise be
unavoidably incurred.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
(Signed) H. Lowe, Lieut. GeneraL
VOL, lU I 3 M
hi
m
iili
* £ s - ■"
2 S2
11
11~lJsJill
AWBNOR.
-3
•a
lei's 6
C ^ 9 an ^
trill
1 8 •
01
01
9'
O.
H
•» ft
«55
lb.
^^A - *^2
•a 0
w« s
•IJIS
3-!
r
4
4^3 AWPnNDix.
No. IV.
Supplies alhwed hy Government^ to the establish*
ment at Longwood, consisting offorty-Jive per-
sons, from October, 1816^ to June, 1817.
DAILY.
Meat^ Beef and Mutton inclndedi (lbs.) • . 82
Fowls (No.) 6
Bread (lbs.) 66
Batter (lbs.) 5
Lard (lbs.) 2
Salad Oil (pints) 3|
Siigarcandy (lbs.) 4
Coffee (lbs.) 2
Tea, Green (lbs.) ^
Tea, Black (lbs.) i
Candles, Wax (lbs,) 8
Eggs (No.) 30
Common Sugar (lbs.) 5
Cheese (lbs.) 1
Vinegar (quarts) 1
Flour (lbs.) 5
Salt Meat (lbs.) 6
Fire Wood (cwt.) , . 3
Porter, or Ale (bottles) , . 3
APPENDIX. 453
Vegetables (in value) • • 1/.
Fruit (in value) JOs.
Confectionary (in value) 8*.
PER FORTNIGHT.
Ducks (No.) 8
Turkeys (No.) -J
Geese (No.) 2
Loaf sugar (loaves) 2
Fine Rice (bag) ^
Hams (not to exceed 141bs« each) • • • • 3
Coals (busbels) 45
Fish (in value) 80^.
Milk (in value) 98^
Fresh Butter, Salt, Mustard, Pepper, Capers,
Lamp Oil^ Peas, (not to exceed in value) « 7L
WINE DAILY.
Champagne, or Vin de Grave (bottles) ... 1
Madeira (bottles) . I
Constantia (bottles) I
Claret* (bottles) 6
N. B. After the departure of the Count de Las
* Cape and Teneriffe wine for the servants, at the rate of a bottle
a day, was also given by government, not included in the Schedule^
being one pint more than the quantity daily allowed to the soldien
and SBiloni stationed at St Helena.
4U
Cia» and Fiontkowski, the meal was reduced to
7Slb& dail}^ and the nnmber of. fowls to J&e.
<)
lUliT XXTRA BXPBNDITURB^ PAID BT THB
£. S.
One doaen.of .Eggs. •.•.•••• .0 6
Eight pounds of Butter^ at S$. per pound 1 4
Two pounds of Wax Candles^ at 3«. 6iiL 0 7
Three Fpwls^ at 6«. each . • • • • • 0 18
Four .pounds Sugaroandy. • • • • • 0 8
Two pounds of Loaf Sugar • ••••06
One pound, of Cheese .•.••.••» 0^
Vq;etables. ..•.•.•.•••.• • » 0 10
Two pounds of SaltPork • • » .• • 0m9
One pound of Lard 0 1
One bottle of Oil 0 8
One pound of Rice, and one of Flour • 0 1
Five pounds of common Sugar ... 0 1
One bottle of Vinegar 0 1
Paper for Kitchen and Packthread ..01
Four loaves of Bread at 1^. 6d. each . 0 6
d.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
6
0
0
0
£5 3 0
WEEKLY EXTRA^ DITTO.
£. ^. d.
Two Turkeys 300
One Ham •...•300
▲PPSNDDC 455
One Roasting I^g 0 11 0
One bottle of Pickles 0 12 0
Three bottles of Olives 14 0
£8 7 0
The above expenditure does not contain the
quantity of meat bought by the French, amount-
ing to from three to five sheep weekly, and two
calves monthly.
No.V.
Restrictions made hy Sir Hudson Lowe^ and com-
municated at Longwoodj on the 9th of October,
1816 ; but which he had already put in execu^
tion by different orders^ ever since the month of
August preceding, and which he never commu-
nicated to the English officers of the service,
ashamed^ no doubt, of their contents.
Heads of some proposed Alterations in the Regu-
lations hitherto established for the persons under
charge at Longwood.
I. LoNGWooD, with the road along the ridge, by
Ilut*s Gate, to the signal-gun near the alarm -house,
irill be established as the limits.
456 AFHMDIXi
II. Sentries wilt dedgnate the external boon-
dary, as well as that beyond which no person can
approach Longwood House and gardes, without
the governor's permission.
III. The road to the left of Hut's Gate, and re-
turning by Woody-ridge to Longwood, never hav-
ing been frequented by General Bonaparte* since
the governor's arrival, the posts wliich observed it
will for the greater part be withdrawn. Should
he however wish at any time to ride in that direc-
tion, by giving the orderly officer timely notice of
it, he will meet with no impediment.
IV. If he is desirous to extend his ride in any
other direction, an officer of the governor's per-
sonal staff will always (on being informed in suf-
ficient time,) be prepared to attend him ; and,
should time not admit, the orderly officer at Long-
wood.
The officer who attends him, will be instructed
not to approach towards him, unless so requested,
nor to interfere in any respect with hlni during
bis ride, except so far as duty may rcquiie, on
observing any departure from the established rules,
when he will ride up and respectfully inform him
of it.
V. The regulations already in force, for pre-
venting communication with any persons witliout
the governor's permission, will be required to be
APPENDIX. 457
strictly adhered to : it is requested ! therefore.
General Bonaparte will abstain from entering any
houses^ or engaging in conversation with the per--
sons he may meet, (except so far as the ordinary
salutations of politeness, with which every one will
be instructed to treat him, may appear to require,)
unless in the presence of a British officer.
VI. Persons, who, with General Bonaparte's
acquiescence may at any time receive passes from
the governor to visit him, cannot use such passes
to communicate with the other persons of his
family, unless it is so specifically expressed in
them.
VI I. At sun-set, the garden inclosure round
Longwood House, will be regarded as the limits.
Sentries will be placed round it at that hour, but
will be posted in such a manner as not to incom-
mode General Bonaparte with their personal ob-
servation of him, should he continue his walks in
the garden after that time. They will be drawn
round the house, as heretofore during the night,
and the limits will remain closed until the sentries
are withdrawn entirely from the house and garden
in the morning.
VIII. All letters for Longwood will be put up
by the governor under a sealed envelope, and the
packet sent to the orderly officer, to be delivered
sealed to any officer in attendance upon General
VOL. II. 3 N
4^' 4ifiinMPU.
^onmparte, y^hn will thus be asiured the ooiiteiits
will have been mude kiioWn to uo ;Other person
than the governor.
In tb«^same manneri np tellers from persons at
licmgwood must be ddifeped to the orderly offi*
per, put up under aa outer envelope sealed, to the
address of the govemoiv whidi will insure that no
other person tten hhnscdf wiU be acquainted with
theif contents,
DC No letters are to be reoeived or sent, nor
written cammumcatkms of am/ hind pass er be
nMie Immon, except i% the above manner : nor
can any correspondence be permitted within the
island, except such communications as may be
indispensable to make to th6 purveyor; the notes
containing which must be delivered open, to the
orderly officer, who will be charged to forward
them.*
The above alterations will take place from the
10th instant.
(Signed) H. Lowe,
St, Helena,
0th Oct, 1816.
• Nothing can surpass the elegance of this composition, except-
ing its grammatical correctness J UT, indeed, the humaynty of the
regulations themseivei
iJPPJBNDIX^ iO&
No. VI.
translation of the Proposal made by the Emperor^
to assume the incognito.
It occurs to me, that in the conversation which
has taken place between General Lowe and seve«
ral of those gentlemen^ things have been stated re-
lative to my position, which are not conformable to
my ideas.
I abdicated into the hands of the representatives
of the nation, and for the profit of my son. I went
with confidence to England, with intentions to
live there, or in America, in the most profound re*
treat ; and under the name of a colonel, killed at
my side, resolved to remain a stranger to every po-
litical occurrence, of whatever nature it might be.
Arrived on board of the Northumberland, I was
informed that I was a prisoner of war ; that I was
to be transported beyond the line ; and that I was
named General Bonaparte. In opposition to that
of General Bonaparte, which it was wished to
impose upon me, I was obliged to bear, ostensibly,
my title of emperor.
Seven or eight months ago Count Montholon
proposed to remedy those little difficulties, which
were produced every moment, by adopting an or-
4$^ AVRNDIX.
dinary name. Tlie admiral thought it to be his
duty to write on the subject to London ; there the
matter at present rests.
A name is now g^ven to me, which has the ad-
vantage of not prejudging the past, but which is
not in the forms of society. I am always dis-
posed to take a name which enters into ordinary
nsage, and I reiterate that when it shall be judged
proper to discontinue this cruel abode, I am will-
ing to remain a stranger to politics, whatever event
may occur in the world. This is my opinion;
whatever else may have been said on this subject
is incorrect.
No. VII.
Translation of the Remarks made by Napoleon
on the slip of paper ^ containing the Governors
reply.
1. The conduct which has been pursued here
for six months, cannot be justified by some
detached phrases of a correspondence M^ith the
minister. A long and voluminous ministerial cor-
respondence, is an arsenal provided with arms of
every description.
2. The last regulations would be considered as
APPENDIX. 461
injurious and oppressive at Botany Bay; what-
ever may be said upon it, they must be contrary
to the will of the English government, which ap-
proved the regulations which were in torce until
the month of August last.
3. All the observations which Counts Bertrand
and Montholon have made, have been useless. A
free discussion has been interdicted by menaces.
No. VIII.
Letter from Count Bertrand to Sir Hudson Lowe,
relative to the presents sent hy Mr. Elphinstone.
Longwoodt 9tk ofJultf, 18 —
Governor, — I have received the five cases
which you took the trouble of sendmg to me, con-
taining a chess-board and men, a box of counters,
and two work-baskets in ivory, sent from Canton
by Mr. Elphinstone. The emperor was surprised
to perceive by your letter, that you think your
duty required that those objects should not be
sent. ^ If I acted,"" you say, " in entire conformity
to the established regulations, I ought to have de-
layed sending them up^ In this case, M. Go-
vernor, it would have been pleasing to us had you
retained them.
462 APPENDIX.
But to what does this refer e Is it because those
articles have not passed through the channel of
the ministers? In the restrictions of the minister,
it is said, that letters must come through his
channel, but not articles of clothing, busts, furni-
ture, &c. We have constantly received from the
cape of Good Hope, many articles which have
been sent to us. Besides, Lord Bathurst, in his
speech, and you, yourself, in one of your letters,
have denied, with indignation, that letters sent by
the poet, or by other^^f^rt<(iHuUes> bare been aeot
to London to be returned to this place. ThU can-
not,T nor ItdB not teMfaorned yon to retva mcli
object* > at Ikuste, AmtuM, booki^ or my «tker
goods, which have no c(Hinexi«i with the secnrity
of detention.
Can it be because there is a crown upon tlie
counters ? No regulation can exist without being
made known to us. Now, it never has been sig-
nified to us, that we cannot possess olyects upon
which there is a crown. It would be necessary,
in that case, to make a new pack of cards lot- us,
because on those which we possess, there is a
crown. The linen, and the small quantity of
plate, which remains to us, are often seiit to town,
and are marked with a crown.
But from whom has this regulation, of which
you speak, emanated ? From your government,
AnmMou 4AS
which alone, according to the bill, has the right
to make any? Your minister declared before par«
liament^ that no restrictions whatever had been
made since those which had been printed and
communicated to Europe, and which your prede-
cessor possessed^ and which had been sent to you.
He added, that you have not made any restric-
tions, but solely adopted measures of execution.
Effectively you have not the right to make any.
The emperor does not desire favours from any-
body, and wishes nothing from the caprice of any
person whatever ; but he has the right to be in-
formed of the restrictions which are imposed upon
him. Your government, the parliament, and aH
nations^ have the same right. I therefore beg of
you. At, to communicate to us those new restric-
tions, and if such exist, they would be in contradic-
tion to the assertion of Lord Bathurst, that they
should have no other object than the security of
detention. The emperor charges me to protest
against the existence of any restrictions or regu-
lations which shall not be legally notified to him,
prior to being put in execution.
I have the honour, &c.
(Signed) Count Bertrand.
461
. Letter from Coipi/ Bertnutd to the Gunner,
Langmood, ISfA Juljf, 1S1T.
I HAVE received, sir, the marble bust of young
Napoleon. I bave given it to bis father. It bas
imparted to him the most sensible pleasure. I re-
gret that you have not been able to come and see
us and give us some details, which are always inte-
resting to a father ia the actual situation of affmrs.
It results from the letters which you have sect,
that the artist esteems the value of his work to
be one hundred guineas. The emperor bas or-
dered me to send you a draft for three hundred
pounds sterling.* The surplus is to indemnify
you for the losses which he knows you liave sus-
tained in the sale of your little venture, as you
were not permitted to land ; and the chicaneries
you have experienced by that event, whicli was
in itself very simple, and would have procured
you marks of esteem from every man of feeling.
Be so good as to communicate the euiperors
thanks to the persons who have paid him this ami-
able attention.
* By means of Bome unworthy tricks, the poor man did not re-
ceive tlie money fur nearly two years.
APPENDIX. 465
I beg that you will acknowledge the receipt of
this letter.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Count Bertrand.
To M. Radotvichy Master Gunner
on board of the skip Baring.
No. X.
The Governors Reply to Count Bertrand's Letter
relative to the Presents.
CastU, James Town, July 2Stk, 1817.
Sir, — I have received your letter of the 10th
instant. The frequent use in it of the imperial
title, and the tone in which you convey your sen-
timents to me when you employ it, would per-
fectly warrant me in declining to acknowledge it,
as being addressed to me in an inadmissible form,
and in referring you to mine of the 30th August,
1816, to Count Montholon. I shall not, however,
avail myself of these arguments for not replying
to its contents.
The only object I had in view in addressing
you on the 8th instant, was to avoid its being con-
ceived I tacitly participated in, or approved the
acknowledgment given to the imperial rank^ in
VOL. II. 3 o
!iM6 -imNDix.
-the crown placed eniy where over the initial of
Napoleon on presents sent bj a British sabject
particularly, and coming from a British foctory.
Had I saflfered them to proceed without any
remark, the inference would hare been obnons '
I saw no impropriety in it; and I am too well
aware how fiir this precedent might have been al-
leged, and what complaints would have sprung
up on any future deviation from it, had I not ex-
plidtly made known the grounds npon which in
this instance I had suffered tbem to reach you.
The donor's sentiments are his own, bat I have
a free right to the exercise also of my opinion, in
not making myself the medinm of them ; and in
suffering the presents to proceed with no other
qualification Uian what my note expressed, 1 went
to the extreme boundaiy of what any attention to
General Bonaparte's desires or expectations could
demand of me.
You ask me, sir, estce parceque ces ohjets ne
son t pas arrives par le canal du minislre F' &c.
I should have considered myself fully warranted
in keeping them back upon the general principle
of my instructions, without reference to the decu-
ration upon thera, until there was an express au-
thority obtained from my government for their
delivery, unless I assumed upon my own discre-
tion to examine them and satisfy myself thev co-
APPENDIX. 467
vered no means of communication or assistance
by which a clandestine intercourse was attempted.
That the latter was the principle upon which (
was always ready to act, instead of waiting the
delay of returns from England, was sufficiently
apparent by my sending you the letter before th(!
articles were even landed.
You observe, sir, I rejected with indignation
the accusation, that letters brought by the post on
private occasions should have been sent back to
London to return to this country. I rejected, sir,
with indignation, this accusation, and the reflec-
tions built upon it, because there was no founda-
tion of truth or justice in them : because I revolted
at that feeling which extracted injury and reproach
from acts of attention, (for in sending their family
letters I had esierciscd a discretion in favour of
the persons who addressed me not warranted by
my instructions,) but I did not admit that I had
not the right, and was not fully justified in send-
ing letters back to England, if I thought proper
so to do, when they came by irregular channels,
presents may be as obnoxious to the security of
detention as a letter, and might require to be ex-
amined with a minuteness that would baffle any
purpose of ornament or utility to be derived from
them. A letter may be concealed under the squares
of a chessboard f or the folds of a book cover^ as
i
466 ill^BNDlX
well as hi the linings of a waistcoat ; and I am not
necessarily called upon to place my trust in any
|>erson by wboin they ar6 sent. If articles have
been permitted to teach ycm; It has been because
I have felt satisfiM they were not 6f an objection-
jible nature ; and yott^^rtainly have no reason t^
complain, sir, of the mdde I have used my discre-
ti<m in permitting* g^nwAlf et^ry article that has
arriTcd tb be d^vered,' ilAd in buffering many to
proceed that had eomie 'aiddr^ed to mysielf, the
transmisnon of which fkbih the dfelicady of the
persons who sent them, had 1>een left entirely to
niy option.
You, ohmrref Ar^ fseMt^ putce^ sut ie$
jettms ily avne cckirdnne,'' Sui.'kc. kc.; and aSk if
any regulation exists, which prevents your pos-
sessing an article with a crown upon it.
There is certainly, sir, no specific written regu-
lation prohibiting any article with a crown on it
reaching Longwood, nor to prevent your posses-
sing an object with such a decoration upon it ; but
it was in this case the imperial crown over the
initial of Napoleon, carved, gilt, or engraved, on
almost everv article. His own abdication — the
■
convention of Paris — and the acts of the British
parliament, supersede the necessity of any regula-
tion upon that head.
The articles now at Longwood. with the impc-
APPENDIX. 469
rial crown on them^ were thus marked before the
abdication. I have never disputed their posses-
sion, nor any gratification they might afford
The quotation from the debates in Parliament,
I must beg leave to observe, is inexact, as taken
from any newspaper I have seen* The papers
themselves differ ; for one speaks of regulations,
another of instructions, not restrictions, being the
same (without any substantive alteration,) as those
at first prescribed. •
You say, sir, " f^ous navez pas le droit (Ten
fairer
The act of parliament, the warrant and instruc-
tions I possess, are, sir, my surest guides on this
point; whilst I may at the same time, however, be
allowed to observe, that the original instructions
you wish to refer to as my only rule, have received
a more ample interpretation than what their strict
letter would imply in the degree of freedom from
personal restriction General Bonaparte at present
enjojrs.
You add, ^ LEmpereur ne veut de graced &c.
Slc.
I have not the pretension to bestow a favour on
Oeneral Bonaparte, and still less the arrogance of
subjecting him to any act of my caprice. He is
Under no restriction which my government does
tSLot know, and which all the world may not know
470 APPVNDIIC.
It 18 nbt irreleTant on this occasion to obsenr^
that at two intenriews with General Bonaparte, he
personally observed to me that I was a general-
oficer to act upon instructions, and not execute
my duty as a ^ amsigne i" at present it is as a
eansigne^ it appears I am required to perform it
On another occasion he objected to ^^ aucune in-
spectian direete ou fuhlifuer How do these sug.
gestiona accord with the narrow limit to which il
tis at present sought to restrict the exercise of my
duties ? The views yon have now presented coin-
cide most with my own, (seeing that every exer-
cise of my discretion, even in points where 1 seek
to act most favourably, only entails fresh discus-
sion,) but where such opposing sentiments are
conveyed to me, you must, sir, admit the difficulty
of reconciling them.
You say, sir, " VEmpereur me charge de pro-
tester contre Vexistence de toute restriction,'' &c.
&c. &c.
Any communication made to me in the proper
name of the person whom you thus designate, it
is n)y bounden duty to consider, wherever circum-
stances will permit it. The notification of a regu-
lation arising from a sudden case cannot, how-
ever, be made previous to the occurrence which
calls it forth. The matter of which you now
speak was not of a nature to require previous
APPENDIX. 471
communicatioD^ but it was here, at all events, not
carried into execution before communicated.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient,
And most humble Servant,
(Signed) H. Lowe, Lieut-General.*
Count Bertrand,
No. XI.
Letter from Count Bertrand to the Governor,
containing the Grievances of Longwood.
Longwood, SOM September ^ 1817.
Governor, — I have made know^ to the empe*
ror, that you did me the honour to come to me
the day before yesterday, (Sunday,) that you told
me some anxieties had been excited in you re-
specting his ill health, and that as this was attri-
buted to want of exercise, why did he not ride
out on horseback ?
I replied to you, what had been said in various
circumstances, and I have the honour to repeat to
you noW; that the existence of the emperor, parti-
cularly for the last six weeks, has been extremely
* For the deep obscurity and rambling comtruetion of gome pas-
■iges in this state-paper^ it is hoped the reader will hold only its
•ttthor respoDsibla
479 AmiNDn.
panful; that tlw twelUag of his legs increases
every day ; that the Bymptoms of scurvy which
had been remarked in his gums, are already such
as to occasion him almost constantly acute pains ;
that tbe medical men attribute tbis to want of
exercise ; that ever since the month of May, 1816,
that is to say, for seventeen or eighteen months,
tbe emperor has not been on horseback, has
scarcely ever been out of bis apartment, except
sometimes, and very rarely, when be came about
forty toises, to visit my wife ; that yoa know per-
fectly well what has prevented, and does prevent
the emperor from going oat ; namely, the restric-
tions of the 9th October, 1816, which began to be
pot into execation six weeks after your arrival;
that those restrictions contain among others, a pro-
hibilion from speaking or listening to any persmi
we maif meet, and friim going into any house ; this
makes him think that your intention was to com-
promise him witli the sciitries, and to outniij'e liis
character.
You liave observed to me, that you have sup-
pressed that part of the restrictions, and sucli is
the ease. Admiral Midcuun, on his return fioiii
the Cape, made sonic observations to yoo on llic
subject, and you decided on suspending tliem,
whitli you did by your letter of tlie 2Glh Dectni-
ber, IHIG, three months afterwards. lint you
have several times insinuated, that you believe
APPENDIX. 473
yourself authorized to re-establish them at any
momenty as well as others equally unreasonable.
The restrictions of the 9th of October, 1816, con-
tain other articles of the same extravagant nature,
which are not suspended. Fresh restrictions
which you made on the 14th of March, 1817, pre-
scribe that we are not to quit the extent of a road
twelve feet wide. It would thence result, that if
the emperor were to quit that road, or enter into
any house, the sentries might ^re upon him. The
emperor ought not to recognize such ignoble treat-
ment. Several Englishmen of distinction, at pre-
sent in the island, on that passage being read to
them, (not being acquainted with the restrictions
of the 9th October, 1816, and of the 14th March,
1817,) reproached the emperor for sacrificing his
health by not going out ; but as soon as those re-
strictions were made known to them, their opinions
changed, and they declared that no man of ho-
nour could act differently ; and that, without pre-
tending to compare themselves with him, they
would in such a case have done as he did.
I added, that if you wished to consult the of-
ficers who are in this colony, there is not one
among them who does not regard the restrictions
of the 9th October, 1816, and those of the 14th
March, 1817, as unjust, useless, and oppressive;
and that all in the emperor's place would act as
voii. II. 3 p
474 AmpsNDnL
be did, holding such conditional leave to go out
as an absolate prohibition.
I had also the honour to tell you, that accord-
ing to the terms of the bill in parliament of the
11th of April, 1816, yon have not a right to make
restrictions : that the bill grants that right only to
the government, which cannot delegate it even to
one of its ministers, and still less to an individual
officer ; that Liord Bathnrst in his speech, in the
month of March, in the House of Peers, declared
that you had made no new restriction, that all his
correspondence had been in favour of the detained
persons, and that you had the same instructions
as your predecessor; that your predecessor had
adapted the restrictions of government to local
circumstances, in a manner, if not convenient, at
least tolerable; that things remained in this state for
nine months, during which time the emperor used
to go out, received even some English officers at
liis table, and sometimes had in his society the of-
ficers and inhabitants of the island ; that this order
of things teas not cJianged by an act of your go^
vernment ; that during those nine months, no in-
convenience took place, and that nothing can have
authorized vou to substitute for an order of thin^rs
so reasonable, that which you have established ;
that the emperor would go out, ride on horseback,
and resume the same way of life, if you would re-
APPENDIX* 475
Store things to the state they were in at the time
of your arrival ; that in default of this, you would
be responsible for the results of the restrictions
of the 9th of October, 1816, and the 14th of
March, 1817, which you have no right to make,
and which, to the emperor, are equivalent to an ab^
white prohibition to quit his apartments.
You told me, sir, that the emperor's room was
too small, that Longwood House was altogether
bad, as you had declared it to be to your govern-
ment ; that the emperor having had a tent erected
last year, because there was no alley where he
could walk in the shade, you proposed to esta*
blish a soldier's wooden barrack near the house^
where the emperor might take his walks ; I under-
took to make known to him your proposition. He
considered this offer as a mockery^ (those were
his words,) and analagous to the conduct pursued
for these two years. If the house where he is be
inconvenient, why has he been left there for these
two years, and why do not they give him one of
those in the island, situated in the midst of gar-
dens, trees, shade, and water? Why leave him
upon this uncultivated point, exposed to the winds,
and having nothing that can contribute to the pre«
servation of life.
Let me be allowed, sir, to point out to your ob-
servation, that if you do not suppress the restrio-
APPENDIX. 477
I have, sir, always spoken to you to this effect,
more or less forcibly, I shall speak to you of it
no more, for denials, subtil ties, and arguments^
are very useless.
The question lies in two words ; do you or do
you not wish to hill the emperor P If you persist
in your conduct you will yourself have answered
in the affirmative ; and unhappily, the object will
probably be attained after some months of agony.
Permit me, in concluding to answer, on be-
half of the officers who are with the emperor, and
also on my own, to your letters of the 29th and
26th July last. — Sir, you misunderstand our cha-
racter : menaces have no power over us. For
twenty years we have braved every danger in his
service. By remaining voluntarily at St. Helena, in
the horrible situation in which we iare, and exposed
to the strangest proceedings, we sacrifice to him
more than our own lives and those of our families.
Insensible to your menaces and your insinuations,
we shall continue to fulfil our duty ; and if there
were any subjects of complaint against us before
your government, we do not doubt that the Prince
Regent, Lord Liverpool, and so many estimable
men who form it, would know very well how to
appreciate them. They know the respect due to
the holy ministration which we fulfil ; and even
had we to apprehend persecution, we should ad-
APPENDIX. 470
as we have none here, he appeared not to wish a
minister of another religion. I should be happy if
you would make us acquainted with the rites of
the catholic church upon this subject, and if it be
permitted that an English minister should admi-
nister to a dying catholic. We cannot praise too
much the good spirit and the zeal which the mi-
nisters of religion of this place have manifested on
this occasion. Cipriani died of an inflammation
of the bowels. He expired on Friday, and on the
preceding Sunday he had attended without any
foreboding of it. A child belonging to one of
Count Montholon*s servants died a few days be-
fore at Longwood. A femme de chambre died a
few days ago of the same complaint. It is the
effect of the bad climate of this place, where very
few men grow old. Liver complaints, dysenteries,
and inflammations of the bowels, carry off many
victims amongst the natives, but especially amongst
Europeans. We felt in this circumstance, and
feel daily, the want of a minister of our religion.
You are our bishop, we wish that you would send
us a French or Italian priest. Be so good as to
• select a man of information under the age of forty,
and who is not prejudiced by anti-gallican prin-
ciples.
M. Pieron has undertaken the office of maitre
d*h6tel ; but he has been extremely ill, and aU
APPENDIX. 481
for twenty -two months the emperor has not left
his apartments, except rarely to visit my wife. He
has seen nobody, but the two or three French who
are here, and the English ambassador to China*
I beg that your eminence will present my re-
spects to Madame, and to the persons of the fa-
mily, and accept the sentiments with which I
have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) Count Bertrand.
No. XIII.
Extract of the Declaration signed hy the Ministers
of the Allied Powers at Vienna^ March 13fA,
1815.
The powers who signed the treaty of Paris
having reunited in congress at Vienna, and in-
formed of the escape of Napoleon Bonaparte, and
his forcible entry into France, owe to their own
dignity and to social order a declaration of the
sentiments which this event has made them expe-
rience.
In thus breaking the convention which had
established him at the island of Elba, Bonaparte
has destroyed the only legal title to which bis ex«
VOL. II. 3 Q
kteiiee wils i attained.' In appearing again h
Firanee^ with i>rojeet8i of tmraUe and subTerdon,
he hlBA deprived biniadf df iht protection of the
law% and haK maolfested Ui the fiiee of the world
th^ there eail: be neither, peace nor trace with
UlB*
The powers deekut^iD conaeqaenoe, that Nape^
leon Bonaparte is placed out cf the pale of civU
and social relations ; and that as an enemy and a
disturber of the worlds he is delivered up to public
vengeance !
Then follow the signatures :
. f Le Priiie^ delMfettemich.
Austria.
^{]
France,
Le Baron de Wessemberg,
Spain. P. Gomez Labrador.
Le Prince de Talleyrand.
Le Due d'Alberg.
Latour Dupin.
Le Comte Alexis de Noailles.
f Le Comte de Razoumowski.
Russia. ^ Le Comte de Stakelberg.
C Le Comte de Nesselrode.
r Wellington!!!
Great IClancarty.
Britain, j Cathcart.
f Stewart,
APPENDIX. 483
C Le Comte Palmela,
Portugal. \ Saldanha.
CLoba
ia. {:
. Le Prince (THardenberg.
Le Baron de Humboldt,
Sweden^ Lowenhielm,
No. XIV,
Protest of the Emperor Napoleon,
I HBREBY solemnly protest in the face of God
and of men, against the violation of my most sa-
cred rights, in forcibly disposing of my person
and my liberty. I came voluntarily on board of
the Bellerophon. I am not the prisoner, but the
guest of England.
As soon as I was 'seated on boai*d of the Belle-
rophon, I was upon the hearths of the British
people. If the government, in giving orders to
the captain of the Bellerophon to receive me as
well as my suite, only intended to lay a snare for
me, it has forfeited its honour, and disgraced its
flag.
If this act be consummated, the English will in
vain boast to Europe of their integrity, their laws.
and their liberty. British good faith will be lost
in the hospitality of the Bellerophon.
I appeal to history ; it will say that an enemy,
who for twenty years waged war against the £ng<
lish people, came voluntarily in his misfortunes to
aeek an asylum under their laws. Whsit more
brilliant proof could he give of his esteem and bis
confidence? But what return did England make
for so much magnanimity? A haspUable hand
was pretended to be held oui to that enemy ; and
when he confided to it m good faith he was tmino-
lated!
(Signed) Napoleon.
No. XV.
Island of Saint Helena Port Regulations.
1. The commanders of the Hon. East India
Company's ships, and the masters or comniandei^
of all merchant vessels permitted to touch at this
island, are not to land themselves, or siiflTer any
person whatever belonging to their ships or vesst)?*
to come ashore, until the following regulations
have been made known to all persons on board, —
0 list of passengers, and a roll of the ship's com-
APPENDIX. 485
pany sent to the governor, and his permission ob-
tained for such as are to land.
IL The commander of every ship or vessel is
required most explicitly to declare in the first in-
stance, whether any disorder wtiatever prevails,
or has prevailed, on board, without regard to its
being considered by him, or his surgeon, to be
contagious or other wise, and report any deaths
that may have taken place, and the causes of the
same during the course of his voyage.
III. All letters and packets for whatever per-
son addressed, residing on shore (except such as
come by regular mails, which are Co be sent to the
post-office), are to be delivered to the officer by
whom these regulations are communicated, who
will leave the same at the office of the secretary
of government, where those to whom they are ad-
dressed will receive them.
IV. Should the commander, or any of his pas-
sengers, or any person whatever on board his ship,
have under his or her charge any letters, packages,
or parcels, to the address of or destined for any
of the foreign persons under detention on this
island — it is desired they will make it kno\in
forthwith to the governor himself, putting the let-
ter or parcel, if of small bulk, under a sealed enve-
lope, to his address, and waiting his directions re-
specting any package of a larger species.
486 ArPENDK.
- V. llie commander of. the vessel only, after
these regulations hare been read and published
on board, is at liberty to land, vrhea be vill tmme-
^tely wait m the goremor, if bi town, as veil
as the naval commander id chief; and if the go-
vernor should not he in towa, will call to report
his arrival at the quarters of the deputy adjutant
general.
VI. T^e commanders^ ofiGcers, and all passen-
gers who are aflenrards permitted to land, will
caU at the town majoi's office to read and eagn the
island r^^lations, before tbey proceed to tbeir
lodgings, or visit any htmse or persmi whatever.
VII. No passenger or other pwsoa landing from
ships touching there is to leave James's Valley
without permission, for nhioh tliey are to apply to
the deputy a<ljutant-gener;d.
VIII. No person whatsoever, having permis-
sion to land, is to visit Longwood or the pre-
mises belonging tliereto, nor to hold communica-
tion of any sort by writing or otherwise, with anv
of the foreign personages detained on this island,
without conimnnicating dirfclly his intentions and
wishes tliereupon to the governor, and obtaining
his permission lor the same. — And should niiv
letter or other communication, from any of the
foreign personages above alluded to, be rectivfil
hy any person whatsoever, it is to be brou"li:
APPENDIX. 487
without loss of time to the governor, previous to
answering or taking any further notice whatever
tliereof. The same rule to apply to all packages
which may be received, or attempted to be de-
livered.
IX. The commanders of the East India ships,
and the masters of all descriptions of merchant
vessels permitted to touch at this island, are not
to allow any persons whatsoever, on board of, or
belonging to their ships or vessels, to come on
shore, on leave, without the governor*s authority,
nor is any person to sleep on shore without his
permission.
X. No boat belonging to the ships of the East
India Company, or to merchant vessels of any
description, is to land between sun-set and sun-
rise, nor at any time daring the day, without a
proper officer being in charge of her, and if she is
ordered to remain on shore for any purpose, he
must take care to keep her laying at a distance
from the wharf to admit of other boats landing
without interruption. Boats loading or unload-
ing, are to use every expedition to get out of the
way of others.
XI. All boats belonging to the company s ships.
or merchant vessels of every description, are to
quit the shore by sun-set, and are immediately
afterwards to be hoisted in on board their respec*
APPENDIX. 489
longing to such vessel, the commander of her, or
his officers, are required to give immediate notice
thereof to the flag ship, and to the deputy adju-
tant-general, taking the No. of the boat, or detain-
ing her, as circumstances may direct.
XVII. The commanders of ships possessing
newspapers which may contain late or interesting
intelligence, are requested to deliver them to the
person hy whom these regulations are communi--
catedj for the information of the governor, who
will cause them to be carefully returned.
XVIII. No gunpowder is to be landed without
previous notice being given to the commissary of
stores, and the master attendant, in order that
proper precautions may be adopted to prevent ac-
cidents.
XIX. No horse, mare, or gelding, can be
landed without a permit from the secretary to go*
vernment.
XX. No wines of any sort whatsoever shall be
landed without a permit, signed by the secretary
to government.
XXI. The honourable court of directors having
prohibited the importation of India spirits, it is
regulated, that whoever shall violate this order,
shall incur a fine of 100/. sterling: nor is brandy^
gin, West India rum, cordials, and the like to be
landed, except in small quantities^ upon obtain-
VOL. II. 3 R
APPENDIX. 491
for conveyance to Europe, the Cape of Good
Hope, South Ameiica, or elsewhere, unless such
as are made up in a regular mail at the post-office,
or have been received from the secretary to go-
vernment, or the deputy adjutant-general.
The commander of the ship or vessel will fill up
the report, of which the form is annexed, for the
governor's information, and transmit the same by
the officer who communicates these regulations.
No. XVI.
Proclamation, issued hy Sir Hudson Lowe, a few
days after having sent Lord Bathursfs letters,
making an offer of allowing fifty persons, se-
lected by Napoleon, to enter Longwood.
Whereas it has been ascertained, that a present
bad been delivered to an inhabitant of this island,
in the name or on the part of one of the foreign
persons under detention at Longwood ; which
present was soon afterwards returned, in conse-
quence of the person to whom it had been deli-
vered, becoming sensible, that his acceptance of
it, unless with the governor*s knowledge and au«
APPENDIX. 493
Given at the Castle, James Town, this 16th day
of May, 1818
Hudson Lowe,
Lieutenant General^ Governor and
Commander in Chief.
(Signed) By his Excellency's command,
G. GORREQUER,
Act. Mil. Sec
By order of the Governor, in Council,
T. H. Brooke,
Secretary to Government.
No. XVII.
Longwood, 80M Junt, 1818.
Sir. — Having been informed by Lieut. Reardon,
of your regiment, that you had charged him to
intimate to me, '^ that you had been informed by
Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Reade, that his excel*
lency the governor was very angry at my being
an honorary member of the 66th's mess, and that
I was not fit society for them ; that you had seen
part of a correspondence between the governor
and myself, which had been sent home ; and that
you thought I had used the governor ill. That
you had intended to call a meeting of the officers^
in order to signify to me, that until the business
APPENDIX. 495
Let those who are conscious of guilt, have re*
course to indirect and secret measures. Publicity^
and not concealment is my desire ; and in order
to clear up the business between the governor and
myself, I shall be extremely happy to submit the
whole of the correspondence alluded to, for the pe*
rusal and consideration of the officers of the 66th
regiment, by whose decision thereupon I am con-
tent to abide, and any other scrutiny which may
be thought proper, either by yourself or the offi-
cers, I am also perfectly ready to submit to.
I have too much confidence in the justice, ho-
nour, and liberality of so enlightened a corps of
oMcers as the 66th, to suppose for a moment that
they will condemn unheard to dishonour, (a pu-
nishment worse than death,) an officer whom they
have considered worthy of a diurnal place at their
table ; and, therefore beg, sir, that in case of their
meeting for the purpose of taking into their consi-
deration the calumnies which have been so insi-
diously instilled into your mind against me, they
will not refuse me what is not denied to the vilest
of culprits ; but vouchsafe me an audience in my
defence prior to coming to any decision, unless in-
deed his excellency the governor gives an order for
exclusion ; in which case^ I beg to have a copy of
the same in writing, to shew that such a measure
was the arbitrary act of an individual, and not the
APPENDIX. 497
Helena, to rejoin the emperor and to receive his
parting breath.
I beg of you, my lord, to have the goodness,
without delay, to solicit this authorization from
your government, that I may be able to depart
as soon as possible. As my state of health does
not allow me to travel by land, my intentions
would be to embark at Civita Vecchia to proceed
to England, and to avail myself there of the first
vessel which may sail for St. Helena ; but I should
wish that I may be permitted to go to London, in
order to provide myself with whatever may be
necessary for so long a voyage.
If your government persist in suffering the em-
peror to perish upon the rock of St. Helena, I
intreat that your Lordship, in order to remove all
difficulties which might retard my departure, may
extend your care to prevent the court of Rome
from opposing obstacles. I know that the mo-
ments of the emperors life are counted, and I
should eternally reproach myself if I did not em-
ploy all the means in my power to soften his last
hours, and to prove my entire devotion to his
august person. If there should be any English
vessels in Leghorn harbour at the moment of my
departure, I would ask as a favour that one might
be permitted to take me at Civita Vecchia and
bring me to England.
VOL. II. 3 8
APPENDIX. 499
the hepatic functions are entirely disordered, and
consequently the digestive functions are almost
annihilated.
His majesty is now reduced to such a state as not
to be able to take any nourishment except liquids,
which quickly pass almost unchanged by the
mouths of the absorbent vessels of the lymphatic
system. It is not certain that this nourishment of
liquids is well adapted to his majesty's stomach,
as frequently a few moments after taking, or in the
act of swallowing, they are rejected by vomiting
To this effect, and to relieve my own special re
sponsibility, I declare openly to the imperial fa
mily, and to all Europe, that the progress of the
disease which affects his majesty in this climate,
(which is a proximate cause of such complaints,)
and the symptoms which accompany it, are most
serious.
Dear friend, the medical art can do nothing
against the influence of climate ; and if the Eng-
lish government does not hasten to remove him
from this destructive atmosphere^ his majesty will
soon, with anguish I say it, pay the la^t tribute to
the earth.
Such a crime certainly cannot be attributed to
the medical art, but solely to the unhappy and de-
mdate situation in which his majesty is placed.
Continue your attachment to nie, pay my re*
APPENDIX. 501
walk in his room without support* To the liver
coinphiint another disease is joined, equally en-
demic in this island. The intestines are seriously
affected ; the functions of digestion are no lonj^er
perfi[>rmed, and the stomach rejects every thing it
receives. For a long time the emperor cannot eat
either meat, bread, or vegetables; he is supported
only by soups and jellies. Count Bertrand wrote
to Lord Liverpool in last September to demand
that the emperor should he removed to another
climate^ and to let him know the absolute need
which he had of mineral waters. I have entrusted
M. Baonavita with a copy of the letter. The
governor^ Sir Hudson Lowe refused to allow it
to be sent to his government^ under the vain pre-
text that the title of emperor had been given to his
majesty. M. Buonavita departs this day for
Rome. He lias experienced the cruel effects of
the climate of St. Helena; a twelvemonth's abode
here will cost liim ten years of his life. The let-
ters which Dr. Antommarchi has given to him
for his enimence Cardinal Fesch, will give your
highness fresh details upon the emperor's dis-
ease. The London Newspapers continually pub-
lish fabricated letters dated from St. Helena,* tlie
* At the time Napoleon was in this deplorable state, letters
■rere publLilied in some of the ministerial newspapers, purporting;
to have comt from St Helena, and representing him to h^ i^
502 APPENDIX.
intention of which evidently is to impose opoo
£urope. The emperor reckons upon your high-
ness to make his real situation known to some
English of influence. He dies without succour
upon this frightful rock ; his agonies are fright-
ful!
Deign to receive^
Madam^
(Signed) Count db Montholon.
From Count Bertrand to Lord Liverpool, alluded
to hjf Count MontholoH in the preceding Letter.
My LorD) — I had the honour of writing to you
on the 25th of June» 1819, to let you know the
state of the health of the Emperor Napoleon, at-
tacked as it has been, by chronic hepatitis^ since
the month of October, 1817.
Doctor Antommarchi arrived at the end of last
September, from whose treatment he at firet found
some relief, but since then, the doctor has de-
ftrfett health ; others describing him to be in the h&hii •/ ^mm^
mboui the island ehooting wUd eats. Whether those letters were
•ODOocted in St. Helena or foiged in London, I shiJl not attempt
APPENDIX. 503
clared^ as will be seen in his journal and reports,
that the state of the patient has become such^ that
the remedies can no longer struggle against the
malignity of the climate ; that he has need of mi-
neral waters ; that all the time he can remain in
this abode will only be a state of painful agony ;
that a return to Europe is the only means by
which he can experience any relief, his strength
being exhausted by a stay of five years in this
frightful climate, a prey to the worst treatment.
The Emperor Napoleon charges me to demand
of you that he shall be transferred to an Euro-
pean climate, as the only mode of lessening the
evils to which he is a prey,
(Signed) Count Bertrand.
P, S. — I had the honour to send this letter to
Sir Hudson Lowe under un cachet volant which
he returned to me with the addition of the in-
closed letter. This induces me to send it direct
to you. I suppose that he has taken a copy of
it, which he will send you along with his own ob-
servations, and that this circumstance shall not
have caused any delay.
(Signed) Count Bertrand.
Longwoodf SrdSepi, 1890*
letter sent by order of Sir Hudson Lou-e to Count
Sertrand in replij to the preceding one.
Planlalioit llauie, Surf. Seplembtr, IS2U.
Sir, — ^The governor's instructiong not adiiiilling
tiitn to receive any letter from the persons resid-
ing with Napoleon Bonaparte, where the title of
emperor is given to him, I am directed in conse-
qnence to return you the inclosed.
'I he governor at the same time desires me to
observe, that no letter* was ever received by him
from you, to the address of Lord Liverpool, of
the date of 2oth of June, 1819.
I have the honour to be, &.c.
(Signed) a. GOBHBQUER,
Uiliury Secratoir.
Proclmnatioii, in ir/iich fhe (luf/iun/i/ of Purlia-
ment ix ti.ssuiiicd htj the (rarcrDor if St. IL4i ii:i.
^ ( U(f.r,re(l to in Vol. It. ,,, as.l.)
Proclamation by LiL'Ut.-G(.-ner;il Sir IlmUun
Lowe, K. C. B. Governor iuul Cuiniiiaink-r iii
Chief, for the Honuuiiible F,a;st India Com-
pany, of the i^laiiii of St, Helena, and (.■<iin-
• Ai Sir Iluii^n I,n.»,- rofii-,-J t,. r.-.-pive or to f..r«arcl l,-H,-r- In
wliidi NnjM.lcon ".■-^ rii>t ~t\h'.\ :.^ !„■ th,.iit:)it ].rn[iiT to n;,mL> (.iiu.
the letter iiUuilcd U> w-s M'lit to Eii^himl liy a private liand.
APPENDIX. 505
manding His Majesty's Forces on the said
Island.
By virtue of the powers and authority vested in.
me by a warrant in the king's majesty's name,
bearing date the 12th day of April, in the present
year, and in the fifty- sixth year of his majesty's
reign, authorizing and commanding me to detain
in custody Napoleon Bonaparte, and him to deal
with and treat as a prisoner of war, under such
restrictions, and in such manner as shall have
been, or shall be from time to time signified to me
under the hand of one of his majesty's principal
secretaries of state, and to prevent the rescue or
escape of the said Napoleon Bonaparte ; in the
due execution whereof, all his majesty's officers,
civil, naval, and military, and all his loving sub*
jects, whom it may concern, are required to be
aiding and assisting as occasion there may be ;
public notice is hereby given, that two acts have
been passed in the present session of the British
parliament, the one for detaining in custody the
said Napoleon Bonaparte, and adjudging capital
punishment on those who may be assisting in his
escape ; and the other for regulating the inter-
course of shipping with the island of St. Helena,
during the time Napoleon Bonaparte shall be de-
tained in custody.
Copies of these two acts are hereunto anaexed4
VOL. II. 3 T
APPENDIX,. 507
stntmental to, and assisting in the same, and
be prosecuted with all the rigour which the law
enacts.
It is farther declared, that if any person or per-
sons shall have any information of any attempted
rescue or means of escape, and shall not make an
immediate communication of the same to the go-
vernor, or officer commanding for the time being,
or shall not do his or their utmost to prevent the
same taking effect, they will be regarded as having
connived at, and assisted in the said rescue or
escape, and his or their offence be judged by the
laws.
Any person or persons who may receive letters
or communications for the said Napoleon Bona-
parte, his followers, or attendants, and shall not
immediately deliver or make known the same to
the governor, or officer commanding for the time
being ; or who shall furnish the said Napoleon
Bonaparte, his followers, or attendants, with
money, or any other means whatever, whereby
his escape might be furthered, will be considered
in like manner to have been assisting in the same,
and will be proceeded against accordingly.
All letters or communications for or from the
said Napoleon, any of his followers, or attendants,
whether sealed or open, are to be forwarded to
the governor without loss of time, in the same
state in which they may have been received.
ilPPKNDIX. 609
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS.
NOT NOMINATIVBLY REFERRED TO, BUT WHICH
ARE OF IMPORTANCE TO ILLUSTRATE
THE WORK.
Terms of the Capitulation of El-Arish, for the
violation of which, part of the Garrison of Jaffa
were shot.
The commandant of the Fort of El-Arish,
and the other three commandants of the
troops, to the geneml in chief.
Wb have received the capitulation which you
have addressed to us ; we consent to deliver the
Fort of El-Arish into your hands. We will re-
turn to Bagdat by the desert. We send you the
list of the Agas of the Fort, who promise, upon
oath, for themselves and their troops, not to serve
in Djezzar's army, and not to return to Syria for
the space of one year, reckoning from this day.
We will receive a pass and colours from you. We
Irill leave in the castle all the supplies which are
found there. The whole of the Agas in the Fort
solemnly swear by our Lord, Moses, Abraham,
and by the Prophet, to whom may God be pro-
pitious^ and by the Komn, to execute faithfully
APPENDIX. 511
rien de reprehensible ; yous y 6panchiez votre
coeur daus le sein de ramiti^. Cette lettre est
com me les huit ou dix autres que vous avez
6crites k la m£me personne^ et que vous avez en-
voy^es ouvertes. Le commandant de cette ile
ayant eu rind^licatesse de scruter les expressions
que vous confiez h, Tamiti^ vous les a reprochdes.
Derni^rement il vous a menac^ de vous renvoyer
de rile, si vos lettres contenaient encore quelques
plaintes. En agissant ainsi, il a viol6 le premier
devoir de sa place, le premier article de ses restric-
tions, et le premier sentiment de Thonnear. II vous
a ainsi autorisd 4 chercher les moyens de r^pan-
dre, par effusion, vos sentimens dans le sein de vos
amis, et de leur faire connaitre la conduite coupable
de ce commandant ; mais vous Hes sans artifices ;
il a 6t6 bien facile de surprendre votre confiance !
On cherchait un pr^texte de saisir vos papiers.
Une lettre k votre amie de Londres ne pouvait
autoriser une visite de la police chez vous ; car
elle ne contient aucun complot, aucun myst^re :
elle n'est que Texpression des sentimens d*un coeur
noble et franc. La conduite ill^gale et pr^cipit^
que Ton a tenue en cette occasion porte le carac-
t^re d*une haine basse et personelle.
Dans les contr^es les moins civilis^es, les
exil6s, les prisonniers, et m^me les criminels, sont
sous la protection des lois et des magistrats. Les
personnes nomm^es pour les garder out des chefs^
APPENDIX. 513
-cependant je vous engage et^ au besbin, je yous
ordonne de requ^rir le commandant de cette ile
de vous renvoyer sur le continent ; il ne peat
point 8*y refuser^ paisqu*il n*a action sur vous que
par Facte yolontaire que vous avez sign^. Ce sera
pour moi une grande consolation que de vous sa-
voir en chemin pour de plus fortunes pays.
Ariiv^ en Europe, soit que vous alliez en
Angleterre, ou que vous retoumlez dans la patrie,
perdez le souvenir des maux qu*on vous a fait
souffrir. Vantez-vous de la fid^lit6 que vous
m^avez-montr^e, et de toute Faffection que je vous
porte.
Si vous voyez un jour ma femme et mon fils^
embrassez-les ; depuis deux ans je n*en ai aucune
nouvelle ni directe, ni indirecte. II y a dans ce
pays, depuis six mois, un botaniste allemand, qui
les a vus dans le jardin de Schoenbrunn, quelques
mois avant son depart Lies barbares ont emp£ch6
qull vlnt roe donner de leurs nouveiles.
Toutefois, consolez-vous, et consolez mes amis :
mon corps se trouve, il est vrai, au pouvoir de
la haine de mes ennemis ; ils n*oublient rien de
ce qui pent assouvir leur vengeance. Ils me tuent
k coups d*^pingles; mais la Providence est trop
juste pour permettre que cela se prolonge long-
temps encore. Kinsalubrit^ de ce climat d^vo-
rant, le manque de tout ce qui entretient la ^e,
VOL. II. 3 u
APPENDIX. S15
•
from insults and outrages. If baseness is carried
to the degree of envying him this refuge, it has
been determined to leave him no other than the
tomb. Labouring for two years under a chronic
hepatitis, a disease endemic in this place, and for
a year deprived of the assistance of his physicians
by the forcible removal of Doctor CfMeara in
July^ 1818, and of Doctor Stokoe in January^ 1819,
he has experienced several crises, during which
he has been obliged to keep his bed, sometimes
for fifteen or twenty successive days. At the
present moment, in the midst of one of the most
violent of the crises that he has yet experienced,
confined to bis bed for nine days, having only pa-
tience, diet, and the bath, to oppose to the disease ;
for ^ur days his tranquillity has been disturbed by
threats of an attack^ and of outrages which the
Prince Regent^ Lord Liverpool, and all Europe
well know h^ will never submit to. As the wish
to debase and to insult him is daily manifested^ he
reiterates the declaration he has already made.
That he has not taken, nor will he take any no-
tice, nor has he ordered, nor will he order any
answer to be given to any despatches or packets,
the wording of which shall be done in a manner
injurious to him, and contrary to the forms which
have been established for four years, to corres-
pond with him through the intermediation of his
516 APPENDIX.
officers ; that he has thrown, and will throw into
the fire, or out of the windows, those insolting^
packets, not wishing to innovate any thing upon
the state of affairs that has existed for some '
years.
(Signed) Napoleon.
Longwood, 16M August^ 1819.
This declaration I have been informed was
called forth by the following circumstance : while
Count Montholon was sick. Sir Hudson Lowe,
ingenious in inventing new vexations, refused to
correspond with Count Bertrand^ and wanted to
insist upon having a direct correspondence with
the emperor, either hy the visit of one of his offi-
cers twice a day to him^ or hy letter. To attain
this, he sent Sir Thomas Reade or another staff-
officer to Longwood several days, who entered
the house, proceeded to the outer door of Napo-
leon's apartments, against which they continued
to knock for some time, exclaiming, ^^ Come out
Napoleon Bonaparte F — " fFe want Napoleon
Bonaparte F &c. ; concluding this scene of un-
called for outrage by leaving behind them pac-
kets of letters addressed to '^ Napoleon Bona-
parte,** written in the usual Plantation House
style.
APPKNDIK. 517
llie followmg extract of an official letter trans-
mitted by nie to the Lords of the Admiralty ^ and
dated the 28th of October, 1818, containing a
statement of the vexations inflicted upon Napo-
Icon, will shew that the fatal event which has
since taken place at St. Helena^ was most dis-
tinctly pointed out by me to His Majesty s mi-
nisters, possibly in sufficient time to have prr-
VENTED its occurrence, had they thought proper
to have altered the system pursued towards that
illustrious personage.
^' I THINK it my duty to state, as his late medi-
eal attendant, that considering the disease of the
liver with which he is afflicted, the progress it has
made in him, and reflecting upon the great morta-
lity produced by that complaint in the island of
St. Helena, (so strongly exemplijQed in the number
of deaths in the 66ch regiment, the St. Helena re-
giment, the squadron, and Europeans in general,
and particularly in his majesty's ship Conqueror,
which ship has lost about one sixth of her com-
plement, nearly the whole of whom died within
the last eight months,) it is my opinion, that the
life of Napoleon Bonaparte will be endangered
by a longer residence in SHch a climate as that of
518 APPENDIX.
I
St. Helena, especially if that residence be ag-
grayated by a continuance of those disturbances
and irritations to which he has been hitherto sub-
jected, and of which .it is the nature of his dis-
temper to render him peculiarly susceptible."*
(Signed) Babry £. O^Mbara.
To Jclin Wilson Croker, E»q.
SeerHmrjf io ikt Admiralttf,
The document in the Preface io the Second Editton, emt'
iaifiing the Protocol of ihe conference ai ChatU/on was
first read bjf Sir Robert WiUon in hi$ place in the House
itfCommom in the praence of Lord Londonderry, who, whtm
questioned by Sir Robert admitted it to be authentic.
APPJSNDIX« 519
p
The followifig lively Description of an Excursion
from James s Town to Longwood, and of some of
the Peculiarities of the Island, was written on
the spot by a Lady who resided there for a con^^
siderable time afterwards.
" Sl HtUnm, November, 1815.
♦ # m m m
'^ St. Helena is a shocking place to travel iiu
Such roads^ such hills, such precipices. They
call it five miles, but I am sure it seemed to me
to be fifteen. Mountain upon mountain, rock
upon rock : I verily believed that I had reached
the clouds. But this I am certain of, that I passed
through three distinct climates. After leaving the
town, and until I reached the Briars, the scorch-
ing heat of the sun took the skin from my face
and blistered my lips. The narrow road between
two black and barren rocks was so suffocating
that I was nearly overcome. Then when I reached
the Alarm-house, only a mile and a half farther, a
strong gale of cold wind blew my hat into the
DeviFs Punch-Bowl: I expected that myself and
my horse would have followed it, as the animal
could scarcely keep his legs. On arriving at Hut*s
Gate, about three-quarters of a mile further, the
climate again changed, and thick mist came scud-
ding down from Diana*s Peak, which enveloped
iipPRNDlX* 521
arriving near the Alarm-house, I met a party of
poor black slaves with such heavy loads of wood
upon their heads, as made me shudder; I ex«
pected every moment to see them sink under their
enormous burdens, but to my amazement, they
trudged down the almost perpendicular path of
the rocks with as much ease and celerity as if
they had only a few feathers for a load. Shortly
after, I met a number of slave women and girls,
bl^ck and brown all dressed very smartly in India
worked muslins, with earrings and necklaces,
marching with all the confidence and conceit of
Bond Street belles. I imagined at first that they
were going to some ball, but on looking down to
see what sort of dancing pumps those gay ladi^
wore, I perceived that they had neither shoes nor
stockings. I had scarcely finished making reflec-
tions upon female vanity in all countries, ere I was
terrified by the approach of a large cart drawn by
six bullocks, in so frightfully narrow a part of the
road, that I scarcely saw any other alternative
than being crushed between the cart and the rock
on the one side, or hurled down the tremendous
precipice on the other. My horse fortunately was
imbued with none of my fears, and glided between
the cart and the rock with the most dexterous
composure. My ears were now saluted by the
sound of the merry drum and fife, and I came up
VOL. II. 3 X
the moroent that I left James's Town, and con^
tinned to do so for nearly three miles to the top
of the finst hill. The road is so steep, craggy,
and narrow, that there is barely room for two
horses a breast.
'* I soon got so high, that my head became dizzy
when I looked down on the environs of the town,
which extend for some distance in a narrow valley
between two black, high, barren rocks. No trace
of vegetation is to be seen in them, and in some
places they look as if they would crnmble and
fidl upon the heads of the inhabitants. This
scorching dreary road is called ^ Side Path.**
I was surprised by the prodigious number of
mice, which were continually issuing from the
rocks and running under the horse*s feet, which
rendered me fearful that the animal would stum-
ble, but he took no notice of them. When ar-
rived at the hill above the Briars, (which is the
temporary residence of Bonaparte) I stopped and
looked down with indescribable emotion upon
the small cottage which he inhabited, and had
soon the good fortune to see the ex-emperor walk
forth, attended by his secretary the Count Las
Cases. The Briars is situated in a sort of valley,
in an amphitheatre of rocks. It is a patch of
beauty and cultivation in the bosom of desolation.
When I had ascended the summit of the Briars*
524 AFPBNmx^
hill, I thought it impossible that I shoald have
to mount any higher, but to my great amazement
on turning the corneri I perceived nearly perpen*
dicularly before me, one infinitely more steep
than that which I had ascended, and was informed
that I still had three more to mount before I
reached Deadwood camp. On arriving at the
summit of the second hill, I turned to look down
upon James*s Town, which from this spot seemed
to me like a parcel of card houses scattered about
in a narrow passage. The road now became
more open, but nothing like trees or vegetables
are to be seen, on every side wild staring ravines
and fantastic or hideous rocks. Arriving at the
Alarm House, (a post from which ships are seen
at a great distance,) I had a fine view of the ocean,
and the roads, with many ships lying at anchor,
and the guard brigs cruizing to windward and
to leeward of the island. For the first time I
now obtained a distant sight of Longwood, at
the other side of the Devil's Punch Bowl. This
" bowl ** is most properly so named, for it is
really a hollow of enormous volcanic horrors, truly
diabolical in their appearance ; nothing is seen to
relieve the eye. but a small cultivated patch on
one side near to the bottom, which forms a strange
contrast to the surrounding barrenness. You
there behold two neat cottages with gardens of
APPENDIX. 625
fruits and flowers,* which seem as if they had
dropped from some happier region into this de-
moniac bowl. On arriving at Hut*s Gate, the
scene again changed. Diana's Peak, clothed
with verdure, and reaching nearly to the clouds,
opens to view Fisher's Valley,-f- which winding be-
neath in varied beauty, adorned with a handsome
house, and groves of trees, psesents a charming
relief after the painful scene of desolation and
barrenness through which I had passed. After
passing Longwood gates, I perceived Deadwood
camp. The picturesque appearance of the tents
in the wood, their snowy whiteness contrasted
with the dark blue shade of the gum-wood trees,
produced a novel and theatrical effect upon me ;
and I thought* that I had never beheld ft tout
ensemble more interesting.' On a nearer approach,
however, I admired less the appearance of the
trees ; they were all blown to one side by the
trade wind, and upon examination and inquiry, I
was surprised to find that they are of so baleful a
nature, that a large space under each tree is ren-
dered black and unproductive by their pernicious
* The reader will obeerre, that care wat taken to ezdade Napo-
leon from any little enjoyment which those few fortunate spota might
offer, by confining him to the high road.
t Before Sir Hudson Lowe's arrival, this was a favourite ride of
Napoleon's ; soon after, the governor tzduded it from the limits ■!«
lotted for the French prisoners.
526 APPENDIX.
droppings. They are of a singular shape, being
formed somewhat like an umbrella, with a very
small narrow leaf*
Dmimod, Detemher, 1815.
^^ I have scarcely closed my eyes all night, for
those abominable fleas. I am covered with bites,
and there are this very minute seven or eight
skipping upon my pillow. The rats have been
running about all night in swarms. AVhen I was
tired of driving them away and at last fell asleep,
they gnawed holes in the quilt of the bed over
me. The rain has poured in at the sides of the
tent so much during the night, that my feet were
in a puddle up to my ankles. We cannot pro-
cure even a«few boards to put under our feet, to
keep us dry, as wood is so scarce in the island,
and our only hopes are, that by patiently waiting
a few weeks until some storeship arrives, we may
be able to purchase some old packing cases, and
contrive to make a sort of floor of them to keep
our feet dry. The rats have gnawed through the
tub which contains our Cape salt butter, and
no fresh butter is to be obtained.* The rain
* During Sir George Cockbom'g time, a fiiudl portioa of fresh
Imtter was made for Napoleon's use. After the arrival of his sue*
cessor^ this was discontinued.
APPENDIX. 527
has come through the book-shelves and all my
books are spoiled : on sending them to be dried
in the kitchen^ I found that the rain had peoe*
trated entirely through the sods of the roof, and
the servant was up to hid knees bailing it out in
pails full. The wet in the tent has rendered my
piano quite mute, and I cannot execute a single
tune. We sent to the messman to request him
to spare us two or three pounds of fresh meat for
dinner, but he replied that he had not enough for
the officers* dinner ; we then sent to the quarter-
master Serjeant^ to beg of him to let us have some
salt ration pork or beef^ some breads and a few
potatoes : he sent us word that no bread had ar-
rived from town as the roads were so bad as to
be nearly impassable; that he haH received no
potatoes for some days ; and very little ration
pork, of which he spared^ us a small piece with
a little rice. We sent John with some dollars
amongst the farmers to purchase a few potatoes^
or other vegetables ; but he returned after several
hours* fatigue without any thing, as the natives sel-
dom take the pains to plant other vegetables than
potatoes; which they send to the town in sacks to
sell or barter at a high price to the East India-
men, living themselves on salt pork and rice.
We were, therefore, obliged to content ourselves
with this St. Helena fare^ and to order the cook
INDEX.
Abstinence, Napoleon's, ii. 257
Accouchement of the Countess Bertrand^ i. 338
of Marie Louise, ii. 36?
Adamant, arrival of, i. 317
Admiralty, Encrlish, i. 483
Albuera, battle of, ii. 194
Alexander, Emperor of Russia, his character, i. 228, 248. Hit
views on Turkey, 382. Asks Napoleon's advice respecting
the conduct of his ambassador in China, 510. His attention
to military trifles, ii. 48 Proposes that Napoleon should
marry his sister, 159
Alexandria, i. 375
Alorerines,i. 171,306,502
Allies, their declaration at Vienna,-!!. 481
Ambassadors, not the representatives of sovereigns, ii. 175
Persian, anecdote, of, ii. 292
Amherst, lord, his embassy to China, i. 469. Ought to have
gone through the Ko-ton, 475, 509, ii. 68. Arrives^t St.
Helena, and visits Napoleon, 112. The emperor's opinion
of his embassy, 174
Amiens, the treaty of, first violated by the English, ii. 21
Anecdotes, i. 35, 58, lO.'), 124, 180, 322, 429, 435, 488, 496.
ii. 4, 5, 35, 36, 65, 118, 124, 146, 172, 184,219,220,268,
292,300,348,361,369
Anglesea, marquis of, wounded at Waterloo, ii. 162
Angoul^me, duke de, ii. 392
'■ duchess of, i. 487
Antommarchi, Dr. his letter to Signor S. Colonna^ii. 408
Archambaud, i. 165
Areola, ii. 2, 226
Aristocracy, English, condemned by Napoleon, i. 478. ii. 252^
380
TOL. II. 8 T
INDEX. 531
Bortrand,count, a ccompsnies Napoleon loSt.Helena,!. 2. Takei
up his abode at Hut's Gate, 1 7> Receives a visit from Sir H.
Lowe respecting^ the necessity of Napoleon being' daily seen
by some British officer, 38. Condemned to death by the
French government, 81. Removes to Longwood, 169. His
brother no longer an exile, 425. Bill drawn by him for Sir
H. Lowe's approval, 426, Receives a letter from Messrs. Ba->
ring and Co. ii. 180. Wishes for a certificate of life for the
countess, 184. Letter to Sir H Lowe respecting Mr. Elphin-
stone's presents, 461. To the gunner of the Baring, 464.
To Sir. U. Lowe respecting the grievances at Longwood,
471. To Cardinal Fescb, 478. To Lord Liverpool, ^02
*— — countess, i. 17. Her accouchement, 338
Bessi^re, Madame la Mar^chal, i, 454
Bingham, Sir George, i. 244
lady, i. 434
Blacas, i. 225, 486, 489
Blakeney, captaio, ii. 210
Blucher, character of, i. 200. His contempt for the Fpench, 42§
Saved by his Cossacs, 429
Bonaparte, Buenaventura, ii. 297
Joseph, i. 232, 359, 360. ii. 310
Lucien, ii. 291, 293
■ Napoleoa, leaves the Bellerophon fer the Northam-
berland, i. 1. His habits during the voyage to St. Helena, 7,
Arrival at St Helena, 8. Residence at the Briars, 1 1. Re-
moves to Longwood, 15. Begins to write his memoirs, I7.
Generosity to an old Malay, 19. Space allotted for his walks
20. Precautions against his escape, 21. His opinon of Mu-
rat, 24. Of Miss Williams's " Present State of France," 24.
His hours of rising, 24. Habits at Longwood, 25. Refuses to
see Sir Hudson Lowe, 27. Subsequent interview with Sir
Hudson, 28. Opinion of Sir G. Cockburn, 29 and 34. Dis-
approves of, and alters the paper sent for the signature of his
Criends,31. His aversion to St. Helena, 33. Interview with
Captain Hamilton, 33, With Colonel and Miss Wilks, 84
Anecdote of Corvisart, 35. Reproaches the Engli:>h govern-
ment for sending out ships without chronometers, 36. Ques-
tions O'Meara as to his precise situation, relative to himself,
47. His opinion of Sir H, Lowe, 48,48, 94, 128, 163, I70,
21 1, 229^ 235, 244, 248, 279, 284. 297.301, 357, 443, 444
456. ii. 141, 187> 262, 345. Apprehensions of the gout, i. 45.
Affected with catarrhal symptoms. 48. Character of Sir J,
Moore, 55. Of Kieber, 56. Account of Villeneuve and of
his death, 5<i. Character of Barr^ 57. Anecdotes in proof
INDEX. 533
Joseph, 232. His concern for O'Meara, 233. Wishes Las
Cases to leave Si. Helena, 234. Opinion of Desaix, Kleber,
Soult, Moreau, 237. Of Lasnes, 238. Of Massena, 239. (>f
Picheg'ni,240. Recounts hiseaHy life, 249. Denies having: ever
ofTe red his services to Eng^land, 250. Of Gen. Paoli,250. Of
the English expedition to Copenha^ren, 25 L. Of the Engflish
smugglers, 252. Of the expedition to Walcheren, 254. O**
Robespierre, 259. Of the situation of England, 260. Of the
probability of a revolution in France, 272. Of Georges' con-
spiracy, 273. Of Moreau's death, 274. Of St. Priest's death,
275. Narrow escape on the island of Lobaa, 276. Attack of
nervous fever, 276. Wishes his body to be burnt, 277. Cha-
racter of Pozzo di Borgo, 290. Desires to have an interview
with las Cases before his departure, 291. Protests against
Sir H. Lowe's conduct, 295. Presents O'Meara with a snuff-
box, 303. Of the attack on Algiers, 306. Of Nelson, 30a
Of the treatment of the French prisoners, 323. Of the detain-
ment of the English travellers, 326. Of Miot, 328. Reply to
the charge of poisoning his sick, and causing four thousand
Turks to be shot at Jaffa, 329. Visits Countess Bertrand, 338.
Account of Ceracchi's conspiracy ,339. Of theinfernal machine,
340. Of the attempt to assassinate him at Schoenbrunn, 344.
Of a similar attempt against him, in his own chapel, 345.
Intended to invade Englarid, 349. Opinion of the canaille,
S51. Would abolish flogging io the navy, 351. More na-
tional spirit in England than in France, 352. Proposed a
commercial treaty with England, 353. Had not aimed at
universal dominion, 354. His modleof paying off the English
national debt, 354. Of Ca\holic emancipation^ 355. Anger
towards SirH. Lowe for having accepted Admiral Malcolm's
intermediation, and then not movingin the basiness,357. Mes-
sage to Sir H. Lowe, 358. Disputes with Sir H. Lowe, re-
spectiog his restrictions, 358, 360, 368. Complains of the
English, 369. Disputes respecting the restrictions, 37 i. His
belief in fatality, 373. The English should have retained pos-
session of Alexandria, 375<. Letter to the Emperor Paul, 378.
Of his assassination, 379. Agreement with him to invade
India, 381. Danger to India from the Russians, 381. An-
xiety for Count Monthoion, 383. Of Grouchy, 385. Of
SouU, 386. Of Ney, 386. Of Mouton Duvernet, 387. Was
the sovereign of tlie people, 368. The English guided by in-
terest,389. Remarks upon Longwood9390. The means of ex-
tricating England from her difficulties, 395. Of Sir H. Lowe's
cruelly, 396 Of Car not, 400. Of Clarke, 400. Hisinten-
tioas lowaids Englaad, 40SL Denies having expressed ^1^
INDEX. 535
formed by them at Elba^ 507. Delighted with the races, 507.
The English ought to have submi tt^ to the Chinese etiquette
510. His advice to the emperor of Russia on the same sub-
ject, 510. Refuses his consent to Talleyrand's proposal of pro-
curing the assassination of the Bourbons, 5 JO. Employed in
writing an account of the seven years* war of the Great Fre«
derick, 511. His opinion of medicine, ii. 2. Anecdote of
the Marseillois, 4. Prohibited the making of eunuchs under
pain of death, 7. His habits of business, 9. Opinion of the
Emperor of Austria, 9. Of the Corsicans, 12. Continues to
writehisobservationsontheworksofPrederick the Great, 15.
Of the Corsicans, 17. Of Sir H. Lowe, 18. Of the French
prisoners in England, 19. Of the attack by the English on
Copenhagen , 20. Of the seizure of the Spanish frigates ,21.
The peace of Amiens violated by the English, 21 . The Eng-
lish offer to assist in making him King of France, on condition
of his surrendering to them Malta, 21. Of Captain Wright,
24, Of the French and English prisoners, 26. Of the
Princess of Wales, 32. Of Prince Leopold, 33. Of the
plots against his life, 38. Of the Venetians, 86. Of Count
D'Entraigues, 36. Of Moreau, 40. Of Pichegru's plot, 41.
Of the Emperor of Austria, 42. Of Bernadotte, 43. Of
Brueys, 44. Of the French and English sailors, 47. Of the
Emperor Alexander, and the king of Prussia, 48. Of the Eng-
lish armies, 50. Of the English cavalry, 51 . Of Russia, 53.
Of the Emperor Paul, 53. His own final intentions in regard
to Europe, 56. Of the Duke d'Enghien, 59. Or Pichegru,
59. Of Cromwell, 59. OrMadamedeStael, 65. Of the em-
bassy to China, 68. Of the proper policy of England, 69 —
77* Of the French prisoners, 84. Of Santini, 92. Anxiety
to possess his son's bust, 98. Character of his mother, J 00.
of Josephine, 101. Of Murat, 104. Of the Neapolitans, 105.
Possibility of his remaining in France after the battle of Wa-
terloo, 106. His title to the c^own of France, 113. Visit from
Lord Amherst, 117* His general policy, 120. Of Wurmser,
124. His precautions against the plague at Jaffa, 128. Let-
ter to Sir H. Lowe, 130. Message to Sir H. Lowe, 132. Thinks
that he is harshly treated that he may be driven to suicide,
142. Reply to Lord Bathurst's speech, 142. Of Poussilgue,
145, Of the Mamelukes, 146. His birth day, 146. Anec-
dote of two English sailors, 146. Of the Prince of Orange, 146.
Of the Queen of Prussia, 150. Malta the fittest place for his
abode, -161. His wish to visit England incognito, 154. His
J Ian to attack the allies in Paris, 157. Alexander's wbh that
e should marry his sisteri 169. Of Narbonoe^ 160. Nearly
INDBX. 537
paiorn of 1813, 393. letter to the empress id favour of
0*Meara, 417. Presents to O'Mearm, 417. His proposal to
assume the incognito, 459. His protest, 483. Lettre adress^
auComtede Las Cases, 510. His declaration, 614. Proposed
ini'CriptioD on his tomb-stone, 528
Bonvivant, ii. 309
Bourbons, i. 186, 388, 394, 408, 482, 48?. ii. 69, 120, 164
Bouvet de Lozier, i. 451
Boy:», Mr. censured by Napolean, ii. 210
Briars (the), account of, i. 10
Krienne, battle of, i. 421
Brook, Mr., ii. 184
Brook's History of St. Helena, extracts from, ii. 489
Brueys. admiral, ii. 44
Bulletins, i. 442. ii. 398
Burdett, Sir Francis, ii. 84
Bust of young Napoleon, ii. 98, 102, 108, 114
Cambridge storeship, ii. 366
Cambronne, ii..209
Campan, Madame, ii. 172
Campaign of 1813, ii. 393
Campbell, colonel, i. 460
captain, ii. 1
Canaille, i. 351, 427, 440. ii. 379, 385
Canals, intended by Napoleon in Egypt, i. 438
Cannes, ii. 268
Canosa, prince of, ii. 305
Capri, commanded by Sir H. Lowe, ii. 302. Surrendered hy
him to the French, 329
Carnot, sketch ot his life, i. 187. Clarke's conduct towards
him, 400. His character, ii. 172
Caroline, queen, ii. 138
Casset|p,ii. 301
Castlereagh. lord, i. 260. 394, 395,401,421,459,468,480,
497. ii. 158,164,221,352
Catholics, emancipation of, i. 355. ii. 21 1 , 224
Cavalry, English, inferior to the (*>ench, ii. 51
Caulaincourt, i. 428, 489. ii. 221
Ceracchi, Lis attempt against the life of Napoleon, i. 339
Cesar, Napoleon's coachman, i. 343
Charles, a mulatto, i. 265
Charles, Prince, h^s character, i. 203
Charlotte, princess, ii. 146. Her death, HM, S'l
Chateaubriand, i. 457. ii. 16, 363
Chatham, lord, ii. 22
VOL. II. 8 2
5:W INDBX.
Cbatillon, peace of. i. 490. ii. 156
China, i. 471, 475. ii. «8, 174, 404
emperor of, bis edict, i. 509
Churchill, Mr., i. 476
. Misses, i. 476
Ciphers, easily read, ii. 285
Cipriani, dangeroasly ill, ii. 386. His death, 389
Clarke his conduct to Camot, i. 400. His character, 400
ClatLsel, i. 493
Cochrane, lord, ii. 291
Cockburn, Sir George, sails with Napoleon, i. 1 . Evening' par*
ties, 13. Repairs Lougwood, 14. Stations two cruizera off
8t. Helena, 32. Calls on Gourgaud's mother in Paris, 413.
His opinion of Napoleon, 431. His own character by the
emperor, ii. 140, 240
Codicil to Napoleon's will, ii. 339 .
Coffee, grows in the South of France, i. 424 •
Cole. .%lr. ii. 187
Colonies, English, France independent of their produce, i 423
Commerce,* distress of the English, i. 395, 423
treaty of, proposed by Napoleon to England, i. 353
Conmissiooers, of France, Russia, and Austria, their arrival at
St. Helena, i. 63. Sir H. Lowe's aversion to them, ii. 270
Concordat of the Bourbons with the Pope, ii. 164
Coodorcet, ii. 152
Congress of Vienna, their determination to send Napoleon from
Elba to St. Helena, i. 84
Couscriptioo, ii. 381
Conj^piracies against Napoleon,
■ by Oeracchi, i. 339
by Su Regent, Imolan, &c i. 341, 354
. by a young man at Schoenbrunn, i. 354
by a Saxon, i. 347
by Pichegru, i. 449 f
by the allies, i. 461
Conspiracy, Napoleon's disregard of, ii. 225
Conreotion, in danger, li. 359. Offer the chief command to
Napoleon, 360. Saved by Napoleon, 360
Cook, captain, i. 477, 479
Cooper (French) anecdote of, ii. 369
Copenhagen, the expedition to, i. 251. ii. 20
Coroeille, ii. 391
Corowallis, marquis of, i. 496 «
Corsica, history of by Napoleon, ii. 168
Omcaoi their character, ii. 12, 17
2NI9BX. 539
Corvisart, his character, i. 35. Refiites id attend Loois, 87
Coster, i. 449
Cossacs, i. 427* 420. ^
Courier newspaper, ii. 18!
Crime, Napoleon denies having committed any, i. 404, 468
Crescentini, ii. 7
Cromwell, ii. 60
Curate of St. Roch, i. 488
D'Anoouleme, duke, ii. 302
■ duchess, i. 487
D*Artois, count, i. 104. ii. 270
Darn, count, ii. 35
David transport, arrival 6f. i. 391
Davie, captain, ii. 113
Davoust, 1. 432, 492
Deadwood, camp at, i. 20, 265. Races at 507» idem, ii. 212
Debt, (the national) of England, i. 172, 355, 395
Declaration of the allies, ii. 481
Deciphering, (private oflSce for,) in Paris, ii. 288
Defection of the Bavarians, ii. 394
D^jeun6 de trois Amis, ii. 225
D'Enghien, duke, i. 335, 417, 450, 468. ii. 59
Denon, i. 435
D'Entraigues, count, his arrest by Bemadotte, ii. 87. Betrays
the Bourbons, 37* Escapes to Switzerland, 38. Calumniates
Napoleon, 38
Desaix, i. 237,310. ii. 39
Desgenettes, his conduct at Jaffa, i. 331
Desnouettes Lefebvre, i. 254
Destiny, Napoleon's belief in, L 199, 878. ii. 4, 6, 6, 226, 256,
261
Dirc^.tory, French, their conduct towards Napoleon, ii. 267
Corrupted by the Venetians, 355
Disturbances in England, i. 426
Dominion, (universal,) not aimed at by Napoleon, i. 354, '161
Dorset, duchess of, ii. 123
Douglas, major, i. 210
Downfall, (Napoleon's) its causes, ii. 398
Drake, i. 282
Dubois, ii. 367
Dugommier, general, high opinion of entertained by Napoleoa
i.251
J)uphot, General, ii. 858
Duioc,i. 219. iL
Edinburgh Review, iL 206, 225
Educatioo, ii. 385
Egypt, Napoleon's plans for making canals tbere, L 438* Bea«
sons for leaving^ it, 420
El-Arish, capitulation, i. 609
Elba, Napoleon's reasons for quitting it, i. 459
Fllis, embassy to China, ii. 404
Elphinstone, Mr. his presents to Napoleon, ii. Il7»461
Emancipation, catholic, i. 355. ii. 224
Embassy, Lord Amherst's to China, i. 469, 475, 509. ii.GS, 174
Emperor, disputes with Napoleon concerning that title, L 154,
159, 161
Eoghien, due de, i. 335, 417, 450, 468. ii. 59
England, i. 226, 260, 349, 411, 423, 426, 461, 469, 474, 497.
ii. 77, 155, 189
English, Napoleon's opinion of them, i. 244,389 ii. 19. Their
dislike of the French, 52. Their detention iu France,* 57*
Their preference of the bottle to women, 193
English commerce, remedy suggested by Napoleon for its ie«
lief, i. 395, 423
■ manufactures, i. 473
■ national debt, i. 354. ii. 67
— — travellers, their detainment in France, i. 326. Will
change the English feeling towards Napoleon, 420
Entraigues, count de, ii. 37, 38
Escapes, Napoleon's, at Areola, ii. 226. At Toulon, 226. From
drowning, 227
Esling, balUe of, ii. 168
Eunuchs, the making of, prohibited by Napoleon, ii. 6
Excursionfrom James's TowntoLongwood,descriptionof,ii.5l9
Exmouth Lord, his expedition against Algiers, i. 503
Expenditure, table of that established at Longwood, ii. 450
Experiment, her arrival at St. Helena, ii 74
Fag AN, colonel, ii. Ill
Fatalism, Napoleon's belief in, i. 199,373. ii. 4. Anecdote in
confirmation of it, 5. Napoleon's belief in it, 6, 226, 256 261
Fehrzen, major, ii. 52
Ferdinand, king of Spain, i. 405, 461. ii. 119, 166
F^re» (regiment de la) ii. 227
Festing, captain, i. 462
F^tes, given to Napoleon on his return from Italy, ii. 267
Firing (insufficiency of,) at Longwood, ii. 31. Furniture broken
up to supply the want of it, 191. Fresh complaints of \l$
deficiency, 195. Sir H. Lowe regulates it by the consump*
tion at Plantation Uooie, 200
ixDisx. 541
Floofging: in the navy, i. 351
Fontainbleau, (treaty of,) violated by the allies, i. 460
Foach6, bis character, i. 163. Worse than Robespierre, ii« 170.
Never in the confidence of Napoleon, 173
Fox, i. 458. ii. 121,124
Franceschi, Cipriani, ii. 301
Frederick the Great, his seven years' war,i. 511* ii. 15. His
character as a ^neral, 229
Freemantle, admiral, ii. 330
Freemasons, i. 185. ii. 42
French heiresses, ii. 221
French prisoners, i. 323
Generals, talents' requisite to, ii. 229
Gentilini, i. 165
Georges, i. 252, 303, 451
Gerard, i. 493
Goldsmith, i. 467
Good-Friday, i. 481
Gor, Captain, i. 511
Gorrequer, major, i. 109, 111, 121, 128, 222, 282
Government, (Napoleon's) defended, ii. 384
Gourgaud, i. 508, 509. ii. 241
Graham, general, ii. 195
Grassini, ii. 7
Grouchy, i. 385, 482
Gunner, (of the Baring,) his present of a bast of young Napo*
leon to the emperor, ii. 98, 102, 108, 1 14. Count Bertrand'a
letter to him, 464
Gustavus, aneodote of, ii. 65
Hall, William, dismissed from Longwood, ii. 74
Hamilton, captain, his interview with Napoleon, i. 33
Haugwitz, i. 226
Hebert, ii. 170
Heiresses, French, ii. 221
Hepatitis, (first appearance of,) in Napoleon, ii. 257
Hobhonse, Mr., sends his "La$i Reign of ike Emperor Napoleon/*
to Bonaparte, i. 84. Kept back by Sir H. Lowe, ii 347
Hoche, general, i. 482
Hodson, major, i. 4S3
Holland, Lord, his protest against the second reading of Bo*
naparte's detention bill, i. 66
■ Lady, Napoleon's message to her^ ii. 516
542 INDEX.
Jaffa, 1. 328, 416. ii. 127
Jews, enconragred by Napoleon, !• 18S
Imans, Napoleon's religious contest with them, ■• 430^
Iroolan, one of the contrivers of the infernal machine, i. 341
Inipaissance of GustaTos, ii. 65
. supposed, of Napoleon, ii, 65
Incogrnito, proposals made by the emperor to assnme it, ii. 460
India, i. 375, 381. ii. 196, 232
Innes, captain, ii. 1
Invasion of England, i. 849. ii. 378
Intrigue, anecdotes of by Napoleon, ii. 218, 220
Joseph Bonaparte, his character, i. 232. ^Sovereignty of Span-
ish South America proposed to him, 359. His affection for
Napoleon, 360
Josephine, the empress, i. 180, 226, 462, 467. ii* 101
Jonrdans Marshal, his character, ii. 194
Journal, Las Cases', seized by Sir H. Lowe, i. 231
Ireland, i. 469, 482
Italians, their Odelity to Napoleon, i« 202
Julia, arrival of, i. 358
Keating, colonel, presented to Napoleon, i. 84
Kleber, his character, i. 50, 237> 438
Kolli, Baron,ii. 110, 157
Ko-tou, i. 469, 475, 500. ii. 68, 174, 177
Labedoyere, at the battle of Waterloo, ii. 162. At Grenoblo,
269. His character, 365
La Haye, i. 449
Lallemand, general. Napoleon's opinion of, L 512
Lama, the Gi^nd, ii. 91
Larrey, his opinion that it would be an act of humanity to
comply with the wishes of the sick at Jaffa, i. 331. His cha-
racter, ii. 251
Lasnes, his character, i. 239
Lavalette, i. 448
Las Cases, count, i. 217, Taken into custody, 221. Napoleon
wishes him to leave St. Helena, 234. Alters his opinion of Sir
H. Lowe, 241, 243. His motives for following Napoleon,
270, 277» 280. Leaves St. Helena, 298. Sends provisions
to Napoleon, 426. The cause of Napoleon's irritation against
Sir H. Lowe, 446, 455
jun. his letter to Mr. CM eara, i. 393
Lauderdale, lord, i. 20. ii. 851
Leipsic, battle of, ii. 395
Le Musa. i, 502
INDBX. 543
Lentils, ii. 210
Leopold, Prince, ii. 33, 138
Leslie, his pneumatic machines for making ice, iOO.
Letters, regulation of, as applied to Napoleon and his suite, i. 20.
All that pass through the London post-office opened, ii. 287
Libels, Napoleon's contempt for, i. 432, 456, 466. ii. 64,338
Liberty, French and English compared, i. 484
declared by Lord Castlereagh to be merely an usage,
ii. 159. The battle of Waterloo, fatal to it, 385
Liver-complaint, its prevalence at St. Helena, ii. 435
Liverpool, lord, packet addressed to him from Longwood,iL262
Lobau, island of, i. 275.
Lodi, ii. 2
London post-office, ii. 280
Napoleon's wish to visit it incognito, ii. 154
Longwood, description of, i. 10. Improvement of, 14. Jfapo-
leon there, 15. The drawing-room on fire, 80. . Scarcity and
bad quality of the water, 370. Incredible number of rats*
494. Scarcity of fuel, ii. 31. Overrun with sparge, 143.
Scarcity of fuel, 191. Idem, 195. State of Count Montho«
Ion's apartments, 210. Earthquake, 229
Lorn, Ignatio, ii. 294
Lowe, (Sir Hudson,) his arrival at St. Helena,!. 26. His installa-
tion, 27* Visit to Longwood, 27- First interview with. Na*
poleon, 28. Sends a declaration to Longwood for the signature
of Napoleon's suite, 31. His changes relative to the treat*
ment of the French, 37. Orders the shopkeepers to give them
no credit, 37* Forbids all communication with them, 37*
Places sentinels to keep off all visitors from Longwood, 87-
Grows more suspicious, 38. Pays several visits to Longwood,
and at last obtains an interview with Napoleon, 38. Alarm
at a tree that overhangs the ditches, 39. Orders it to be
grubbed up, 39. Visits Count Bertrand, 39. Informs him
that Napoleon must be seen dailv by some British officer, 39.
Wishes Napoleon to dismiss O'Meara, 48. Issues a procla-
mation forbidding any person to bear letters to or from Na-
poleon, or any of his suite, 48. Wishes to reduce Bonaparte's
establishnlent, 89. Sends a letter to Longwood, demanding
12,000^ per annum for the maintenance of Napoleon and
suite, 98. Threatening language respecting Napoleon, 99.
Complains of Napbleon's letters, 124. Expects an apology
from Napoleon, 134. Imposes fresh obligations on the French^
139. Letter to Napoleon in answer to his declaration, 158.
Regulations respecting sentinels, 188* Objects to let the pro*
duce of Napoleon's plate be at the disposal of the French, 220
INDSX. 54S
leave of him, 123. Returns from the Cape, 221. Interview
with Napoleon, 311, 363. 462. Defends SirH. Lowe^ii. 17,
110. Sails for Eng^land, 1 14.
Malcolm, lady, i. 462. ii. 109, 114
Malouet, ii. 22
Malta, i. 151
Mamelukes, ii. 145
Manning, Mr. ii. 89
Mantua, siege of, ii. 124
Manuscrit venu de Ste. H61&ne, ii. 204, 211
Marat, ii. 170
Maresca, ii. 301
Maret, i. 419
Maria transport arrives at St Helena, ii. 179
Marie Antoinette, ii. 172
Marie Louise, i. 467. ii. 159, 225, 367 •
Marchand, L 234, 293
Marlborough, ii. 229
Marmont, bis treachery, ii. 157
Marriage (Napoleon's), particulars of it, ii. 370
Napoleon's opinion of, i. 60 i '
Marseillois, cbaraciensed by Napoleon, iL 6
Massena, his eharaoter, L 239^ 387i 384, 492. ii. S42
Masseria, i. 256
Maxwell, captain Murray, ii. 117
Meade, general, .i« 114, 115
M^h^ de la Touohe, L 449
Menou, i. 439. ii. 359
Merry, Mr., ii. 124
Metternich, i. 500
Meuron,i. 124
Moeurs et Coutumes des Corses, ii. 17
Meynell (captain), presented to N&poleon, i. 65. The enpe»
ror's anxiety on account of his illness, ii. 24
Ministry, the English, L 442, 473,484, 601. ii. 21, 28, 41, 60^
154,240
Miot, i. 328
Moira, lord, ii. 232
Mol6,i.406
Money, raised in London for Napoleon's expedition from El-
ba, ii. 21
Napoleon's seized by ♦ ♦, ii. 223
Monks, Napoleon's aversion to them, i. 489
Monf cbenu (marquis of), his arrival at St* Helena, i. 63. Hit
VOL. li. 4 A
546 iNDix.
mtDDers, 218. Comes to guard, not to dine with Napo1ecMi»
431. His imbecilitv, 476. His indecent language, 508
Montbolon, General, i. 808, 884. ii. 16, 52, 210, 500
— — Madame, i. 457 *
Moore, (Sir John), his character, i. 55
Moreau, his character, i. 237* His share in Georges' conspiraqTi
273. His dea'th, 275. Privy to Pichegni's conspiracy, 452.
His character, ii. 85. Anecdote of his death, 86. Hiscondoct
towards Pichegru, 40. His celebrated retreat condemned, 40
■ Madame, anecdote of, ii. 85
Moscow, conflagration of, i. 194. Napoleon's retreat from, ii.
16,810
Mouton Duvemet, i. 887
Murat, death of, L 28. His character, 24. His bad condaet,
206. His official papers falsified, 486. His expedition to
Sicily, ii. 0. His declaration respecting the battle of Wa-
terloo, 95. Napoleon's intention of dethroning him, 104.
His bravery, 864
Mossey, L 450
Nabobs, ii. 223.
Naples, descent apon, by Sir J. Stewart, ii. 280
Narbonne^ his character, ii. |6a Hb birth, 160
National debt (English), Napoleon's mode of paying it^ i. 855,
395
spirit, greater in England than in France^ i. 852« 481
Neapolitans, character of, L 171» 206. ii. 105
Nelson, lord, i. 308
New8papers(English)editorsof,inthepayoftheBoorbon8,i.407
Ney, his promises to bring back Napoleon in an iron cage, i.
886 ; his conduct at Fontainbleau, 447
Oatb, Napoleon's at his coronation, i. 481
Ocean, her arrival at St. Helena, ii, 74
Officers of the 53rd, their camp at Deadwood, i. 20. Introduced
to Napoleon, 23. Receive hints from Sir H. Lowe, that their
visits to Madame Bertrand >nrere not agreeable to him, 37
O'Hara, General, i. 203
O'Meara, Mr. Barry, his first interview with Napoleon, i. 3. His
certificate from Captain Maitland,6. Questioned by Sir H«
Lowe, respecting Napoleon, 38. Questioned by Napoleon as
to his precise situation in regard to himself, 48. His reply, 48.
Singular inteiview with Napoleon, 1 12. Offers to resign, 147.
Assists Count Bertrand in translating the new restrictions, 148.
Dines with the commissioners, 168. Attacked by the liver
complaint, 232. Attention of Bonaparte to him . 238. En-
INDBX. 647
deavoars to eflect a reconciliation between Napoleon and Sir
H. Lowe, 289. Is presented \%ith a snufT-box by Napoleon^
303. Defends the character of the Enghsh ladies against
Pillet>227. Is requested by Sir H. Lowe to report Napoleon's
conversations, 303. Receives a letter from young Las Cases,
393. Gives Napoleon his opinion of himself, 403. More fit
to write about Napoleon than any one, 430. Defends the
practice of medicine in a conversation with Bonaparte, ii. 2.
Disputes with Sir H. Lowe, 30. Dispute with Sir U. Lowe
respecting the newspapers, 63. Dines wilh Lord Amherst,
]16. interrogated by Sir H. Lov^e, in presence of Sir T,
Reade, 1 >7. O.dered by Sir H. Lowe, to hold no conversa-
tion with Napolton except on medical subjects, 163. Refuses
to betray Napoleon's conddence, 163. Rallied by Napoleon
on his supposed attachment for Miss **, 218. Reproached by
Sir H. Lowe for not having defended him and the English
ministry against Napoleon, 242. Has a long conversation
with Bertrand respecting the bulletins of health, 273. Vio-
lently abused by Sir H. Lowe, 282. Disputes with Sir H.
Lowe, 298. Ordered to quit the governor's house, 299. Cea-
sured by Sir H. Lowe for buying goods for the French at
Longwood,336. Refuses to go again to Plantation House^
347. Is informed by Sir H. Lowe that he is only tolerated to
visit Napoleon, 352. Interrogated by the governor respect*
ing his conversations with Napoleon, 357. Farther disputes
with Sir H. Lowe, 361. Refuses to give up his rights as an
English officer, 375. Recounts to the emperor the manner of
his treatment by Sir H. Lowe, 3B5. Is informed that he is
not to pass out of Longwood, 399. Tenders his resignation
in consequence, 399. Has an audience of Napoleon, 399. Is
released, 402. Is requested by the colonel of the 66th to with-
draw from the mess, 407. Letter from the colonel, 409. Let-
ter in reply, 410. Dismissed from attending on Napoleon by
the British government,414. Receives a snuff'-l>ox and a statue
of Napoleon from the emperor himself, 417. His parting
from the emperor, 418. His letter to Lord Keith, 444. To
Colonel Lascelles, 496. To J. W. Croker, stating the pro-
bability of Napoleon*s early death, if he remained in his pre-
sent situation, 5 17
Ordeuer, colonel, i. 455
Oudinot, i. 386
Palm, bis arrest and death, i. 432
Paoli, 1.251
Paul, emperor of Russia, 1. 378. His assassination, 379. Hb
intended invasion of India, 381. Idem, ii. 53
548 INDEX.
Pauline, i. 224. ii. 496
Pellelier, 1.385, 407, 433
Pepin, coloneli ii. 361
Peraldi, i. 309
Phaeton, frigate, her arrival at St. Helena, i. 26
Philadelphia society forined against Napoleon, i. 838
Phillipeaux, i. 210
Piccioli, ii. 324
Pichegru, his character, i. 240. Proofs that he eommitted sai*
cide, 334. His conspiracy, 449. Betrayed by d Entraigues,
ii. 39. Napoleon's intentions towards him, 69
Pichon, i. 467, 46
Pillet, i. 321, 327. ii. 27
Pionlkowski, i. 165
PUt,i. 176,458
Plague, i. 473. ii. 127
Plampin, admiral, ii. 112, 196, 281
Plate, Napoleon's broken up for sale, i. 120. Sold, 150, 299
Podargus, ii. 109
Poles, their attachment to Napoleon, i. 190* In cold weather
better soldiers than the French, 190
Policy of Napoleon in case of landing in Eoglui, iL 878
Polignac, i. 453
Poniatowsky, Napoleon's intention of making him king, i 191
Pontons, i. 323. ii. 19, 25, 192, 202
Pope (the), ii. 101
Poppleton, captain, i. 167, 189, 217« 276, 365, 480, 438, 440.
ii. 8, 94
Port-regulations at St. Helena, ii. 4S4
Post-office (London), all letters opened there, ii. 286
Poussilgue,ii. 145
Pozzo di Borgo. i. 290, 308. ii. 306
Pradt, abb6 de, ii. 208
Predestination, Napoleon's belief in, i. 199, 878. ii. 4, 5, 6,
226, 256, 261
Presents, Napoleon's to Mr. O'Meara, i. 303. ii. 417
Mr. Elphinstone's to the emperor, ii. 117, 461
Priests, i. 395. Anecdote of one in Italy, ii. 346
Prisoner, Napoleon nearly made one by the Uhlans, i, 427. At
the close of the battle of Waterloo, ii, 161
i French; how treated by the English, i. 323. ii. 19,
25 202
Turkish at Jaffa, i. 828, 416
Prize- essay, by Napoleon, ii. 168
Proclamations, Sir H. Lowe's, ii. 408, 491, 504
INDBX. 549
Protest (Napoleon's), ag-aiiibi Sir II. Lowe's conduct, i 2M*
Agrainst his being made a prijoner, ii. 483
Provisions, scantily supplied to Najtoleon, ii. 86. Indifferent
quality, 94, 1 12
Prussia, king of, his character, i.l02, 122, 227. 498. ii. 48.
queen of, her character, ii. 150
Races at Deadwood, i. 607. ii. 212
Hails (iron), to surround Napoleon's house, i. 391, 44S
Raiusford (Mr.), his death, i. 508
Rapp. i. 467
Rats, numerous at Long^vood, i. 494
— huAiing- of them, i. 493
Raucour, Mademoiselle, her funeral, i. 488
Reade, Sir Thomas, i. 123, 128, 138, 222, 230, 271, 201, 805,
390, 508. ii. 16, 112, 245, 270, 616
R^al, ii. 138
Regnler, general, ii. 48
Religion, Napoleon's ideas of, i. 197» 444
Resignation, tendered by Mr. O'Meara, ii. 399
Restrictions, imposed on Napoleon's suite, ii. 445
on Napoleon, ii. 455
Review, Edinburgh, ii. 205, 225
. Quarterly, L 319, 406, 46?. ii. 181
Revolution, probability of one in France, i. 272« The former
one defefided by Napoleon, ii. 349
Richelieu, anecdote of, ii. 348
Ripsley, captain, ii. 1
Riviere,!. 449
Robe^pielTe. i. 258. ii. 1C9
RomanzofT, ii. 160
Rome, capture of, by the French, ii. 353 ♦
Ro.sey, ca|:>tain, i. 455
Rovigo, duke of, ii. 138
Rousseau, i. 165
Ru!»sians, dangerous to the^ rest of Europe, i. 388. ii. 63, 69
Saint®, patron, ii. 247
St. Denis, i. 231,. 398
St. Ueicrja, Napoleon*s arrival at, i. 8, Description of, 8. Its
poverty^ 58. ii.201. Farther description of, 421, 434. Itt
port-ieguia(ian8,484 ^
St Hilaire, i. 449
St. Prie&t, general, his death, i. 276
St. Regent, one of the contrivers ol the infernal machine, i. Ml
6U Roch, tlia curate of, I. 488
INDBX. 551
SobsidieSi English, ii. 140
Suchet, i. 492
Soo^r, made from beet-root, i. 423
Soicideji. 142, 167>261
Suite, (NapoleoD's), restrictions imposed on them, ii. 445.
Documents sigmed by them, 446
Sunday, observation of, in England, ii. 344
Surgeons, ii. 2, 248
Surinam, Napoleon's intention of invading it, ii. 201
Surveillers, count ii. 416
Suspension of arms in 1813 fatal to Napoleon, ii. 393
Suzzarelli, ii. 300
Talleyrand, his character, i. 214. His conduct in regard to the
Duke d'Enghien, 335. His treachery and corruption, 421
His triumph, the triumph of immorality, 434. His mission
to Warsaw, 446. Proposes to Napoleon the assassination of
the Bourbons, 510. His character, ii. 171> 174. Opinion of
by a celebrated lady, 174. Defends assassination, 191 . F'lte
given by him to Napoleon, 266. Wishes to celebrate the an-
niversary of the execution of Louis XVI. 268
■ Madame, L 436
Talma, ii. 295
Title, Napoleon persists in retaining that of emperor, iL 274
Titles, Napoleon's opinion of them, i. 164
Times Newspaper, extract from, L 408, not$
Tolentino, treaty of, ii. 353
Tortoise, arrival of, i. 409
Toulon, siege of, i. 203
Trade (English), remedy for its distress, proposed by Napoleon,
1.423
Turenne, ii. 229
Turkey, its approaching fall, i. 376, 382
Uhlans, i. 427, 428
Undaunted, (the), sailors of fond of Napoleon, i. 478
Usher, captain, i. 506
Van o A MM E, anecdote of, i. 124
Varennes, Billaud de, ii. 170
Vend^miaire, the 13th of, i. 440
Venetians, their massacre of the French, ii. 355. Their in-
trigues to corrupt the directory, 355
Venice, occupied by the French troops, ii 36
Victor, Martehal, Napoleon's opinion of, i. 512
052 IMDSX.
Victorious, i. 205
Villeneuve, admiral. Napoleon's account of hh condBct mud
the manner of his dieath, i. 56
Virion, general, i. 325
Walcheren, expedition to, i. 266
Wales, the princess of, her intention to Yitit Napoleon at Elba,
ii. 32. Her visit to Marie Louise, 33
Wallis, captain, ii. 216
Warden, Napoleon's opinion of him, 1.61. His book, 410. Sent
by Sir H. Lowe to Napoleon, 414. Napoleon's opinion of it,
416. His error respecting Massena, 416; respecUngr the
prisoners at Jaffa, 416; respecting Maret, 419; respecting
Napoleon's conversion to Mahometanism, 437 ; respecting
Talleyrand, 446 ; respecting Wright, 449 ; respectiog Ma-
dame Montholon, 456
Water-company (English), attempt to establish one at Paris,
L414
Waterloo, the battle of, i. 174, 463, 479. ii. 96, 161, 385
Webb, Mr., ii. 1
Wellington, i. 176, 463, 479. ii. 184, 194, 229, 342
Whitworth, lord, his interview with Napoleon, i. 500. His
character, ii. 123
Williams, Miss, Napoleon's opinion of her " Present state of
Prance *' i 24
Wilson, Sir Robert, 1.811
Wirtemberg, queen of, ii. 372
Wives, sale of, ii. 224
Women, too many allowed to follow the English armies, ii. 60.
Anecdote of the French, 60. Their society neglected by the
English for the bottle, 192. The life ot conversation, 193.
Wounds, Napoleon's ii. 226
Wright, captain, i. 334, 417, 449. ii. 24, 182,216
«
YAMSTOCKS,i. 91
Younghusband, Mrs. i. 508
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